Many children suffer from frequent colds due to enlarged adenoids. Some of them develop fluid in their middle ears, which is called otitis media with effusion (OME). This is very common in childhood, and some children may be diagnosed accidentally when they visit the clinic for some unrelated complaint. A simple test called impedance audiometry will confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is usually with medication but may require the insertion of ventilation tubes called ‘grommets’ into the ear drum by a minor surgical procedure in the theatre. Also, if the adenoids are large, then they may also need to be surgically removed. This adenoid removal is nowadays performed as a safe procedure called a ‘coblation assisted adenoidectomy’.