Whether or not a culture is taken will depend on your physician's judgment and on the appearance of the throat. Cultures for other bacteria and even for viruses can be done but are seldom necessary. X-rays are sometimes helpful in determining the size and shape of the adenoids. These x-rays are quite safe. Recurrent acute infections of the tonsils also occur in adults.
Tumors can also grow in the tonsils, but they are rare.
Obstruction to breathing causes snoring and disturbed sleep patterns that lead to daytime sleepiness in adults and behavioral problems in children. Some orthodontists believe chronic mouth breathing from large tonsils and adenoids causes malformations of the face and improper alignment of the teeth. Chronic infection in the tonsils and adenoids can also affect nearby structures such as the eustachian tube - the passage between the back of the nose and the inside of the ear. This can lead to frequent or chronic ear infections with earaches and hearing loss. In adults, the possibility of cancer or a tumor may be another reason for removing the tonsils and adenoids.