Information for children going home who've had their adenoids taken out after a day stay in hospital

Eating and drinking

• After the anaesthetic, your child can start eating a light diet such as sandwiches, pasta, soup or jelly. Avoid fatty or junk food.
• Your child may eat a normal diet the next day.

Nausea and vomiting

• Do not worry if your child vomits once or twice after leaving hospital.
• If they vomit or feel sick, stop giving food for about one hour. Then try a light diet to see if your child can manage it without feeling ill.
• If your child continues to vomit, please contact your family doctor or your nearest hospital emergency department.

Activity

• Your child should rest at home for a day or two, then resume normal activity when they are ready.

Hygiene

• After an adenoidectomy, your child should continue brushing their teeth morning and night.

Observation

It is common for children to have some blood-stained discharge and a blocked nose for three to four days.

• Gently wipe your child's nose.
• Your child should not sniff or blow their nose.
• Your child should avoid bending over because this can cause a nose bleed.
• It may be up to a month before your child can breathe properly through their nose.

If your child does get a blood nose:

• Lie them on their side.
• Apply firm pressure to the side of the nose for ten minutes.
• If the bleeding does not stop, contact your nearest hospital emergency department.

Pain relief

• Paracetamol can be given at home every four to six hours for one to two days if needed. Read the packaging for the correct dose for your child according to their age. Ask for help if you are unsure. Do not give any medicine with paracetamol in it more than four times in 24 hours.

• For more severe pain call your child's surgeon or see your family doctor.

Follow-up

• Please arrange a follow-up appointment as discussed with your child's surgeon, otherwise an outpatient appointment will be posted to you in the next week. This is usually scheduled in three to four weeks time.

Contact your child's surgeon if your child:

• Has any fresh bleeding from their nose or mouth.
• Has more than one teaspoonful of fresh blood in their vomit.
• Vomits more than three or four times.
• Can't eat or drink.
• Has a temperature of 38°C or more.

Contact details

The name of your child's surgeon in the ENT Department is:

________________________________________

Surgery Centre
Monday to Friday 7AM to 7PM
Telephone (03) 9345 6570

The Royal Children's Hospital
Telephone (03) 9345 5522 (24hrs)
Ask switchboard to page the on-call ENT registrar if you are concerned about your child.

Call an ambulance (000) immediately in an emergency.

Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Otolaryngology department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

Reviewed July 2025.

Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.