Adenoids in a child: treatment, signs, degrees, photos

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Under the influence of various adverse factors, hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal tonsil occurs, which in medicine is referred to as "adenoids". It refers to inflammation, in which the lymphoid tissue does more harm than good. It is most developed in childhood. As the body grows older, the tonsil decreases in size, and therefore adenoids are rarely detected in adults.

The growth of lymphoid tissue not only impairs the quality of life, but can also lead to serious consequences. Parents need to be able to recognize the signs of adenoids in a child in a timely manner and trust the treatment exclusively to an otorhinolaryngologist. In most cases, self-diagnosis leads to erroneous conclusions. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to assess the condition of the nasopharyngeal tonsil without the use of special tools.

What are adenoids for?

This fabric is located in the zoneconnections between the nose and throat. It is part of the immune system. When pathogens enter the body, the adenoids are the first to recognize them and start the process of fighting pathogens, increasing in size. Thus, the nasopharyngeal tonsil performs a protective function, preventing the development of many diseases. This explains the fact why the adenoids are well developed in children - until about 7 years old, the immune system of any child experiences an increased load, reflecting the attack of previously unknown viruses and bacteria.

Causes of hypertrophy

Normally, moderate tissue growth always occurs when an infection enters the body. After successfully getting rid of pathogens, it decreases to its usual size. Treatment of adenoids in the nose in children is prescribed if the growth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil is pathological and interferes with the process of normal breathing.

Main causes of tissue hypertrophy:

• Genetic predisposition. A child can inherit a deviation characterized by a violation of the structure of the endocrine and lymphatic systems. In the presence of this pathology, not only adenoids are detected, but also diseases of the thyroid gland. In addition, the symptoms of ailments are complemented by lethargy, apathy. Children with a hereditary predisposition to adenoids tend to be overweight, their limbs often swell.
• Complicated pregnancy, birth trauma. The likelihood of hypertrophy increases significantly if in the first trimesterthe woman suffered a pathology of a viral nature. In addition, the risk of adenoids in a child increases if the expectant mother has taken antibiotics or any toxic drugs. Children who have been diagnosed with hypoxia or asphyxia during delivery are also at risk.
• Prone to allergic reactions, including those of immediate family.
• Immunodeficiency states.
• Children's infectious diseases. Against their background, re-inflammation and pathological growth of the tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil can occur.
• Common viral diseases. Constant seeding of adenoids with pathogenic microorganisms provokes their growth.
• Unfavorable environmental conditions. Most often, treatment of adenoids is required in children (photo below) who live in big cities with polluted air. In addition, the risk of pathology increases with an abundance of household chemicals, toxic plastic products and low-quality furniture in the house.

Thus, the development of adenoids is influenced by external and hereditary factors. In most cases, the peak incidence occurs between the ages of 3 and 7 years. Over time, they gradually decrease in size, and, accordingly, the risk of pathology decreases.

Symptoms

Treatment of adenoids in both children (the photo is presented in this material), and in adults an otorhinolaryngologist is engaged. It must be contacted when the firstsigns of disease.

Tissue growth is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Impaired breathing through the nose. One of the characteristic signs of adenoids in children. Treating the symptoms does not bring relief. The child most often sleeps with his mouth open, his sleep is accompanied by snoring and sniffling. Often there are episodes of obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by short-term respiratory arrest. During sleep, retraction of the root of the tongue may occur periodically, due to which there is a risk of asthma attacks. In addition, the child is constantly worried about a runny nose, accompanied by the release of a transparent non-purulent secret.
• Frequent cough. As the adenoids grow, it becomes more and more difficult to breathe, and nearby tissues swell. For this reason, the secreted mucus is constantly in contact with the back wall of the nasopharynx, against which a frequent cough occurs and chronic rhinitis develops.
• Hearing impairment. In the absence of timely treatment of adenoids in children, a strong growth of tissue occurs in the nose. Gradually, it also blocks the openings of the auditory tubes. As a result, the child perceives any sounds worse, he is often disturbed by otitis media.
• The nasality in the voice. This symptom appears when the adenoids grow to a very large size.
• Frequent episodes of tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia.
• Changing the type of face. His expression becomes indifferent, the child's mouth is constantly open, the lower jaw is somewhat elongated, the bite is broken.
• Anemia.
• Disturbed appetite.
• Stool disorders.
• Memory deterioration.
• Fatigue.
• Drowsy.
• Instability of the psycho-emotional state.
• Poor school performance.
• Lack of concentration.
• Frequent headache episodes.

It is important for parents to understand that a doctor's consultation is necessary already at the stage of respiratory failure through the nose. In this case, the treatment of adenoids in a child passes quickly enough. Ignoring the problem leads to even more tissue growth, which leads to the development of dangerous pathologies.

In addition, it is important to distinguish this disease from adenoiditis - inflammation of the adenoids in children. An otorhinolaryngologist is also involved in the treatment, but it is fundamentally different from that prescribed for the growth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. With adenoiditis, the inflammatory process develops in the tissue itself. It is accompanied by: fever, weakness, swollen lymph nodes and other signs of a viral infection.

Degrees of severity

To draw up the most effective treatment regimen for adenoids in a child, the doctor must obtain information regarding the stage of development of the disease. As a rule, it is determined during the endoscopy.

Doctors distinguish several stages of the development of the disease:

• 1 degree. It is characterized by the growth of adenoids, in which the airways overlap by about 30-50%. At this stage, the quality of sleep worsens: it becomes restless, accompanied by snoring and sniffling. ATduring the daytime, the child can in most cases breathe through the nose. Treatment of adenoids of the 1st degree in children is carried out by conservative methods. Surgical intervention is not advisable at this stage.
• 2 degree. As a result of tissue growth, about 60% of the lumen of the nasopharynx is blocked. The child breathes through the mouth almost constantly: not only at night, but also during the day. Nasal voice appears, his speech becomes unintelligible. Judging by the medical reviews, the treatment of grade 2 adenoids in children is successfully carried out by conservative methods. This stage of tissue growth is not an absolute indication for surgical intervention.
• 3 degree. Adenoids significantly increase in size and the tissue covers almost the entire nasopharyngeal opening. In this case, the child always breathes through the nose. In most cases, the treatment of grade 3 adenoids in children is carried out by various surgical methods.

In some countries, doctors classify the disease into 4 stages. At the same time, at the last degree, there is a complete overlap of the lumen of the nasopharynx.

Diagnosis

The doctor should be consulted when the first alarming symptoms appear. It is impossible to independently detect the growth of lymphoid tissue, the diagnosis is confirmed only after a full examination and laboratory results, and not on the basis of the available signs. Treatment of adenoids in a child (the photo indicates the seriousness of the situation) is also prescribed only after all diagnostic measures have been taken. This is because the nasopharyngeal tonsilincreases with inflammation, which is a normal process. After recovery, it returns to its original size.

The following laboratory tests are prescribed for the diagnosis of pathological tissue growth:

• General and biochemical blood tests.
• PCR diagnostics to confirm or rule out infection.
• Clinical urinalysis.
• Bacterial culture from the nasopharynx.

In order to assess the severity of the disease, doctors use the following diagnostic methods:

• Inspection with mirrors. The simplest and at the same time effective way to detect adenoids. The doctor evaluates the condition of the tonsil using a small mirror, the diameter of which is approximately 10 mm. In the process of conducting the study, he examines the nasopharynx in areas inaccessible to the naked eye. In addition, the doctor may suggest the cause of hypertrophy. The tonsils may be swollen, inflamed, with pus or mucus. In such cases, the treatment of adenoids in a child is reduced to the use of conservative methods of therapy. If, during the examination, the doctor did not find inflammatory processes, and the tonsil almost completely blocked the lumen of the nasopharynx, the issue of the advisability of surgical intervention is being decided.
• Endoscopic examination. A highly effective diagnostic method, the essence of which is as follows: a thin flexible tube with a miniature camera and a light at the end is inserted into the nasal passage. The doctor controls the research process by means of a monitor. In fact, this is the same inspection, only it is carried out not with mirrors, but with the help of modern equipment. During the diagnostic process, the child does not feel any pronounced discomfort.
• X-ray examination. This method is considered obsolete, but is still used in practice. On the obtained pictures, shadows of the adenoids are visible, but it is extremely difficult to distinguish the inflammatory process from hypertrophy from the images. Thus, the method is not only uninformative, it is also associated with the exposure of the child.

For a long time, doctors practiced only digital examination for the diagnosis of adenoids. This is a highly effective method, but is currently being phased out. This is due to the fact that in the process of research, the child may experience a deep shock caused by pronounced unpleasant sensations. In addition, palpation in most cases provokes vomiting.

Conservative methods of getting rid of hypertrophy

Some doctors, after examination, raise the issue of removing adenoids in children. Treat or agree to surgery? In such cases, it is recommended to contact another specialist, since conservative methods of therapy are always a priority. The decision to remove the adenoids is always made on the basis of the results of the examination, laboratory tests and if the prescribed treatment is ineffective.

Currently, there are the following ways, in most cases, to avoidsurgery:

• Rehabilitation. In the process of its implementation, the secret of the nasopharyngeal mucosa is removed. This is necessary so that the effectiveness of the use of local medicines is as effective as possible.
• Laser therapy. At present, this method is widely used in practice. Laser treatment of adenoids in children is both effective and safe.
• Taking homeopathic remedies. A safe method of treatment, but its effectiveness is purely individual. Experts advise turning to homeopathy, since there will be no harm from such therapy in any case, and it can also be combined with taking traditional drugs.
• Climatotherapy. It is very useful for a child with adenoids to undergo treatment in sanatoriums in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, as well as in the Crimea.
• Physiotherapy. The choice of method is carried out by a doctor, taking into account the individual characteristics of the child's he alth and the course of the disease.
• Massage.
• Taking drugs that strengthen the body's defenses.

Special importance in the treatment of adenoids in children is given to breathing exercises. Before it is carried out, it is necessary to clear the nasal passages of mucus. Gymnastics is performed as follows: the child closes one half of the nose, and the second one breathes (10 breaths and exhalations). Then he closes the other passage and repeats the procedure. After that, you need to take 10 deep breaths and exhalations with both nostrils. This exercise should be performed 8 times daily.

Operationalintervention

If conservative treatment is ineffective, adenotomy is prescribed - surgical removal of hypertrophied tissue.

In addition, indications for surgery are:

1. Frequent relapses (4 or more times a year).
2. Occurrence of episodes of obstructive sleep apnea.
3. Complications of the disease (disturbance of the musculoskeletal system, vasculitis, kidney pathology).
4. Frequent occurrence of otitis media and SARS.

Adenotomy is performed either by classical or endoscopic methods. In the first case, a special curved knife is brought to the arch of the nasopharynx through the mouth, and hypertrophied tissues are cut off in one motion. Endoscopic adenotomy takes longer but is less invasive. In the process, a device with a cutting tool is used. The operation can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

Surgical intervention is carried out after a thorough examination of the child. This is due to the presence of the following contraindications for adenotomy:

1. Blood pathologies.
2. Infectious diseases (in a child, the treatment of adenoids by the surgical method is carried out after recovery).
3. Serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

Also, adenotomy is not performed during peak flu season.

It is important to know that the operation may have the following complications:

• Relapses. Occur when the surgeon left a small piece of tissue.
• Bleeding. To prevent or stop them quickly, you must strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations.
• Fever. It is forbidden to knock it down with preparations containing acetylsalicylic acid. This is due to the fact that this substance increases the risk of bleeding.
• The nasality in the voice. As a rule, it passes 10 days after the adenotomy.
• Vomiting with blood clots, stool disorders, pain in the epigastric zone. These conditions are associated with the fact that the child swallowed a certain amount of liquid connective tissue. Their presence is not a reason to seek medical help.

After the operation, solid and hot food should be excluded from the child's diet. The consistency of the dishes should be puree, the products should be fresh, high-calorie and contain vitamins and microelements.

Folk ways

There are effective methods of treating adenoids in a child at home, but before using them, you should consult your doctor. This is due to the fact that all natural ingredients are potential allergens and in some cases can aggravate the situation.

The most effective recipes for folk treatment of adenoids in children:

• Flushing. Pour boiling water over 2 tbsp. l. field horsetail. Put the container on fire. Boil for 6-8 minutes. After cooling down with the decoction, rinse the nasopharynx twice a day for 7 days.
• Drops in the nose. Grind the pericarp of the walnut andpour it with 200 ml of boiling water. Put the container on the fire, bring the liquid to a boil. Cool down. Instill the resulting decoction into the nose three times a day, 6 drops each. The course of treatment is 20 days.
• Inhalations. Prepare 1 tbsp. l. crushed budry ivy. Pour boiling water over the grass and put the container on a slow fire for about 10 minutes. After that, you need to breathe over the broth for about 5 minutes. The procedure should be carried out three times a day.

Judging by the reviews of doctors and parents, the treatment of adenoids in children with folk methods brings good results, but non-traditional methods do not exclude the need to seek qualified medical help.

Consequences

Free breathing through the nose is the key to good he alth. This is due to the fact that the secret secreted by the mucosa performs a protective function and cleans the passages from pollution.

Difficulty breathing through the nose results in the following:

• Frequent episodes of colds. The outflow of mucus is disrupted, which creates a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
• The air entering through the mouth does not have time to warm up and cold enters the respiratory tract. Due to this, the following pathologies can develop: pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis or pneumonia.
• The process of air entering the middle ear is disrupted, resulting in immobility of the eardrum. As a result, the child begins to hear much worse.
• Inflammatorydiseases of the middle ear.
• Pathologies of internal organs. This is due to the fact that the enlarged tissue becomes a source of infection.
• Hypoxia.
• Frequent headache.
• Psycho-emotional instability.
• Carelessness, restlessness.
• Improper breathing leads to changes in the facial skeleton and chest.
• Speech impairment.

Thus, the disease can cause many serious consequences.

In closing

Under the term "adenoids" it is customary to understand the pathological growth of the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. The disease has several degrees of severity, in one way or another worsening the quality of life of any child. Treatment of adenoids at home in children can improve the course of the pathology, but does not eliminate the need to see a doctor. A competent specialist will draw up a therapy regimen and will monitor the condition of the child. With the ineffectiveness of conservative methods, surgical intervention is indicated.