Adenoids in children: causes, symptoms and treatment

Unfortunately, adenoids today are one of the most common problems in children 3-7 years old. Moreover, over time, the disease progresses and gets younger. Today, with the problem of adenoids, every second child goes to the otolaryngologist. And not in vain - the time taken treatment will get rid of adenoids, and the neglected state can lead to real problems and a significant deterioration in the quality of life of the baby. Today we will talk about what adenoids are, how and why they appear, what to do with it and whether it is worth removing adenoids from a child.

 Adenoids in children

What are adenoids

Adenoids are not an organ, this is the name of a pathological increase in lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx. Between the pharynx and nose there is a nasopharyngeal tonsil, which is part of the pharyngeal ring.The body is a shapeless substance in the form of a sponge. The amygdala has a very important function - it protects the throat from various microbes that enter the body along with air, food, water. It produces lymphocytes that are necessary for a person to form immunity. An enlarged tonsil is called adenoid hypertrophy, and when this important part of the body becomes inflamed, adenoiditis is diagnosed. As a rule, adenoids are a concomitant symptom of some other disease, but this can turn into an independent chronic problem that prevents the child from living and breathing normally. Adenoids, as a rule, appear in children under 10 years of age, with age, the size of this amygdala decreases, sometimes in adults it disappears completely. But for children it is an indispensable organ, because up to 5 years a child faces a huge number of viruses, bacteria, microbes - this is how his immunity is formed.

Why adenoids increase

An increase in the nasopharyngeal tonsil and proliferation of lymphoid tissue is quite characteristic of colds, and especially viral diseases.A child with respiratory viral respiratory infections cannot breathe through the nose, however, as a rule, it lasts no more than a week. In what other cases an increase in adenoids is observed and why the tissues do not decrease for a long time, we will try to understand.

  1. Frequent colds. If a child is constantly forced to come into contact with infected people, he often gets sick, especially with pronounced immunity. In this case, the tonsils just do not have time to return to normal, they are constantly in a swollen form. A similar condition is often observed in weak children who go to kindergarten.
  2. Infection. Many other infectious diseases, among other symptoms, have just such a manifestation - enlarged adenoids. If suddenly the child stops breathing with his nose, but there is no discharge from the nose, you need to examine the baby for a rash, to monitor the temperature. Adenoids can be enlarged for scarlet fever, influenza, measles, mononucleosis, diphtheria, rubella, whooping cough, etc.
  3. Allergy. The constant presence of the tonsil in an enlarged and inflamed state may indicate regular contact with the allergen. That is, adenoids are a response to irritation of the mucous membranes.Anything can be an allergen - food, plant pollen, dust, animal hair, etc.
  4. Reduced immunity. If the child is weak, does not walk in the fresh air, does not have a healthy and nutritious diet, if he constantly suffers from chronic and infectious diseases, his immunity is very weak. The body's defenses are also reduced if the child breathes dry and hot air, if he lives in a bad environmental situation, if dust surrounds him. The frequent use of sweets, preservatives and artificial colors, flavors, overeating is very detrimental to the condition of the body.
  5. Complications. Often, the child's tendency to the appearance of adenoids is a consequence of various problems in the mother during the period of gestation of the baby. These include antibiotics, fetal trauma, intrauterine hypoxia, the use of potent drugs, drugs or alcohol, especially in the early stage of pregnancy.
  6. Heredity. Sometimes the structure of the lymphoid tissue and its predisposition to increase are genetically incorporated. Namely, a pathology called lymphatism. This leads to a deterioration in the normal functioning of the thyroid gland - the child becomes sluggish, apathetic, easily gaining weight.
  7. Breast-feeding. It has long been proven that a child fed breast milk at least up to six months has a much stronger immunity, antibodies to various pathogens are formed in the body.

All these causes can trigger the occurrence of adenoiditis in children. But how does it manifest itself? How to recognize the disease in time and start an adequate treatment?

How to understand that a child has adenoids

Here are some characteristic symptoms that may indicate the development of this diagnosis.

 How to understand that a child has adenoids

  1. First of all, it is the inability to breathe through the nose. The child is forced to constantly breathe through the mouth, especially during sleep. Because of this, the baby’s lips are often dried, crusts and sores appear on the delicate skin of the lips. In the dream, the baby constantly keeps his mouth open, his head as if thrown back.
  2. Breathing through the mouth is a very inconvenient process, especially if the baby is forced to breathe so constantly. Because of this, the child has mood swings, he feels bad. Lack of oxygen leads to headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, loss of appetite.
  3. Because of nasal congestion, breastfed babies cannot suck properly.breast or bottle - they have to constantly take a breath, often babies lose weight because of this.
  4. For obvious reasons, the child cannot smell, the sense of smell is reduced.
  5. An obstacle in the nose does not allow the child to sleep normally - you can hear characteristic snoring, sniffing, constant air retention, flinching, asthma attacks. The child sleeps weakly, constantly waking up with crying.
  6. Mouth mucous when breathing dries up, because it is not intended for such a load. In the mornings, the child has a barking cough until he drinks some water.
  7. The timbre of the child's voice also changes, he begins to nongosit.
  8. A man needs a nose in order to purify and warm the inhaled air. But since the nose is closed, the air enters the body cold and dirty. This leads to frequent inflammation of the respiratory organs, bronchitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, etc.
  9. The inflamed tonsil with a significant increase closes not only the nasal passages, but also the passage between the nasopharynx and the ear cavity. Because of this, there are frequent otitis, pain in and shooting in the ear, often a long course of the disease leads to hearing impairment.
  10. Acute adenoiditis occurs most often against the background of a cold, it is accompanied by high fever and the flow of mucus from the nose.

To diagnose a disease, the first thing to do is to see a doctor. He examines the nasal passages, opening them with a special tool. Inspection of the throat is obligatory - the child is asked to swallow - while the soft palate moves, and the adenoids vibrate slightly. They also often carry out a posterior (internal) examination of the throat with the help of a special mirror, however, many children develop an emetic reflex. One of the most modern and informative ways to see the adenoids of your child or patient is to use an endoscope. Adenoids will be visually represented on the screen, it will be possible to see their size, to accurately determine the degree of development of the disease, and to examine mucus and blood on the surface, if any.

There are three stages of increasing the tonsils. The first stage of the adenoids - they block the nasal passage by no more than a third, the child can breathe independently only during wakefulness, while breathing in the horizontal position is laid down.The second degree - breathing is blocked by more than half, the child has difficulty breathing during the day, and does not breathe with his nose at night at all. The last, third stage - the complete or almost complete absence of nasal breathing. Long stay of the child in the third stage - the indication for removal of the adenoids.

Drug treatment of adenoids

In the fight against adenoids, the most important thing is the gradual and patient fulfillment of doctor's prescriptions. With the first and second degrees of an increase in adenoids, it is quite possible to cope with the disease with a disease, even if it is a chronic course of the disease.

 Drug treatment of adenoids

If the adenoids are enlarged on the background of another disease, then all treatment is reduced to the fight against the main disease, in this case, the adenoids quickly return to normal. For example, in mononucleosis, the adenoids are very pronounced, the child cannot breathe through the nose. But the treatment of the disease takes place mainly with the help of antibacterial therapy, in this case, the penicillin group. In other cases of acute and chronic adenoiditis, the following medications can be used to help open nasal breathing.

  1. Antihistamines. They are definitely needed, and not only for allergies.Antihistamine drugs for 20-30% relieve swelling of the mucous and tonsils, allows the child to breathe a little nose. You can give your baby what you have at home, naturally, while keeping the dosage - it can be Zyrtec, Zodak, Suprastin, Lordes, Allergid, Fenistil, etc.
  2. Rinsing the nose. In pharmacies there are special solutions and sprays that wash off excess mucus from the adenoids, bacteria, viruses, and also perfectly moisturize the mucous membrane. Among them are Aquamaris, Humer, Morimer. If desired, you can rinse the nose with a simple salty water.
  3. Vasoconstrictor agents. For ease of use, they are usually presented in the form of a spray or drops. Such drugs should be used necessarily, especially before bedtime. Unfortunately, they can not be used for more than 5 days. It must be remembered that these tools are used only to relieve the symptom - they do not have a therapeutic effect. Infants can use only acceptable for their age drugs. Among the effective vasoconstrictor can be distinguished Naphthyzinum, Sanorin, Rinazolin, etc.
  4. Hormonal drops and sprays. This group of drugs helps when all others can no longer cope with severe swelling in the nose. It is important to take them strictly according to the instructions - they can be addictive.Among such funds can be distinguished Nasonex, Hydrocartisone, Flix, etc.
  5. Antiseptics. They are especially necessary if an increase in adenoids is caused by a viral or bacteriological nature. Among them I would like to mention Protorgol, Sofradex, Albucid, Izofra, etc.

For exhausted and dried nasal mucosa, you can use various oils - for example, sea buckthorn. Very effective drug on vegetable oil-based - Pinosol. In the fight against sinusitis of different nature, use Sinupret - in drops or tablets. It is also an effective herbal preparation that can be given even to small children. Immunomodulators or vitamins are required for taking to strengthen the general condition of the baby.

How else to cure adenoids

Here are some more effective ways to combat adenoids that are not related to the use of medications.

  1. Be sure to use proven homemade nasal drops in the fight against nasal congestion - this is diluted juice of aloe, kalanchoe, onion and garlic. Rinse the nose with salt water using a syringe, a small kettle or simply inhaling the water of one nostril.
  2. It is very useful to make inhalations - using a nebulizer or in the old fashioned way with a basin of hot water.As the main therapeutic fluid, you can use antiseptic preparations, decoctions of herbs, just salt water. It is advisable to explain to the child that he must breathe through his nose.
  3. If there is a physiotherapy room nearby, it is very useful to undergo treatment with various procedures. Tube, laser therapy, UHF, electrophoresis will help to cope with enlarged adenoids.
  4. Try once or twice a year to take the child for treatment to the sea or to the mountains. Climate change has a very positive effect on children's health with a similar diagnosis. It is useful to be treated in sanatoriums located in coniferous forests. Be sure to go through several courses visiting salt caves.
  5. Find an experienced massage therapist who will massage the neck area and neck. This promotes the flow of blood to the nasopharynx and accelerates the resorption process of the adenoids. It is very useful to do breathing exercises after the massage.
  6. Be sure to strengthen the child’s immunity - it is necessary to provide him with a proper and healthy diet, he needs to harden the child, more often walk with him in the open air, moisturize and ventilate the room, etc.Be sure to promptly treat diseases of the upper respiratory organs and caries - inflammation can lead to a chronic increase in adenoids.

Remember, complex therapy is prescribed only by a doctor. With the help of effective treatment, you can get rid of adenoiditis of the first and (less often) of the second degree. The third degree is treated conservatively only when there are clear contraindications to the removal of the adenoids. In other cases, the third and second degree requires surgical intervention.

Removal of adenoids

Very many parents are afraid of this operation, and in vain. Modern equipment allows you to remove adenoids under general anesthesia, the child goes home the same day. Removal of adenoids is indicated if the baby cannot independently breathe through the nose, if the disease often ends with complications in the ears, if the child stops breathing at night. You need to understand that this simple operation significantly improves the quality of life of the child. Adenoids are not removed if the baby has serious diseases of the heart, blood, congenital anomalies of the hard and soft palate. Also, adenoids should not be removed during flu and colds season,or place the baby in quarantine during the recovery period after surgery.

Adenoids are a serious pathology that requires timely treatment. Do not ignore the nasal congestion in a child. With proper therapy with adenoids, it is quite possible to cope. But if you have a second or third degree of increase in adenoids - do not be afraid of the operation, this will help the child live a normal life again. The most important thing is to find a good doctor whom you can trust the most important thing - the health of your baby.

Video: how to treat adenoids in children

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