Patients with adenoiditis are usually good-appearing. Physical examination of patients with adenoiditis is usually remarkable for fever, and purulent nasal discharges.^[1][2][3]

• Patient is usually good-appearing in early stages, but may be ill appearing if the complications and disease severity are present.

• Fever
• Tachycardia can be present as a result of infection or pneumonia
• Tachypnea can be present as a result of infection or pneumonia

• Otoscopic examination of the ears may reveal the following signs indicative of concurrent otitis media:^[4]
  • Erythema of the middle ear
  • Presence of purulent effusion^[5]
  • Bulging of the tympanic membrane in otitis media with effusion
  • Cloudy appearance of the tympanic membrane
  • Immobility of the tympanic membrane
  • Tympanic membrane perforation
• Purulent exudate from nose can be present as a result of concurrent sinusitis
• Facial and maxillary tenderness can be present as a result of concurrent sinusitis or the acute adenoiditis itself
• Erythematous throat with tonsillar swelling, exudates, and/or petechiae
• Oral mucous may be dry with ulcers due to mouth breathing

• Lymphadenopathy of cervical nodes

• Fine crackles upon auscultation of the lung due to concurrent pneumonia