Periodically, all babies suffer from colds. However, some children get sick too often. Constant ailments make parents look for the cause of this problem. Often, common colds are associated with uncontrolled growth of lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil - adenoids. In this case, lymphocytes cause chronic inflammation. That is why most doctors advise the removal of adenoids in a child. Reviews confirm that this is the main method to improve the well-being of the baby.
Physiological features
An increase in adenoids in children occurs at the age of seven. It is during this period that there is an increase in their activity in connection with the formation of the immune system. With a significant increase, surgery may be recommended. Removal of adenoids in children is considered with the following symptoms:
- The kid hardly breathes his nose at night. With an increase in adenoids of 2-3 degrees, this symptomatology is observed in the afternoon.
- At night, the child sniffs heavily, snores. Even breath holdings can be observed - obstructive sleep apnea.
- The baby's speech is no longer legible. The voice becomes nasal.
- Hearing decreases. Sinusitis, otitis media constantly recur.
- The child is severely and often ill with viral, colds. Often, the baby is diagnosed with pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis.
Adenoid Diagnosis
Visually, with an open mouth in a child, it is impossible to see the problem. Diagnose the growth of adenoids allow special methods. The doctor examines them with a mirror, examines with fingers and endoscopy of the nasopharynx. After diagnosis, the doctor decides whether the removal of adenoids in the child is necessary. Reviews show that such an operation has a beneficial effect on the further well-being of the baby.
Consider the diagnostic methods in more detail:
- Finger examination. Today, this study is practically not used. Since this is an uninformative and painful examination.
- X-ray Such a study shows the magnitude of adenoids. However, there is little information about the inflammatory process. In addition, x-rays are not a completely harmless examination for the child's body.
- Endoscopy The most painless and safe study providing a complete picture of the proliferation of adenoids. A prerequisite in this case is a completely healthy child. If the baby has recently been ill, the clinical picture of the inflammatory process will be false.
When adenoid removal is necessary
Most parents are afraid to have surgery. Removal of adenoids, reviews indicate this, is constantly delayed. Many are trying to find an alternative in conservative treatment. Today, many methods of such healing have been developed. But, unfortunately, not all of them are effective. In addition, for complex cases, the only solution is the surgical removal of adenoids in the child. Parents' reviews confirm that after such an intervention many health problems can be avoided.
In what cases is surgery required? The decision on the need for surgery is made with the following symptoms and diseases:
- If the baby is seriously disturbed by breathing through the nose. There is apnea syndrome, in which the delay is from 10 seconds. This condition is very dangerous for the baby, as it can lead to constant hypoxia.
- In the case of degeneration of the tonsils into malignant.
- With exudative otitis media. In the middle ear, mucus accumulates, which leads to hearing loss.
- If the proliferation of adenoids provokes maxillofacial abnormalities.
- In the case of unsuccessful treatment of adenoids with conservative methods throughout the year.
Contraindications for surgery
There are cases when surgery can harm the body. The removal of adenoids in children is not carried out in such circumstances:
- blood diseases;
- the presence of an infectious disease, flu (surgery is allowed only 2 months after recovery);
- children who are diagnosed with bronchial asthma, serious allergic diseases (treatment is carried out exclusively by a conservative method);
- with cardiovascular ailments.
Adenoid Removal Methods
In modern medicine, there are several ways to conduct surgery.
Traditional method
Surgical intervention is performed using conventional instruments of the surgeon. This removal option has significant disadvantages. Unfortunately, with this method, it is not always possible to completely excise the overgrown tissue. And this is fraught with relapse. In this case, the adenoids grow again, and the child needs another operation. In addition, healing with traditional excision occurs rather slowly. After all, the wound bleeding surface is large.
Laser removal
This is a more efficient method. Such an operation is bloodless and painless. The laser beam affects only the area of inflammation, while quickly eliminating infectious edema. Laser removal can be performed at any stage of difficulty. For small adenoids, a carbon dioxide apparatus is used. In this case, they are not removed, but are smoothed out with a laser. To excise large tonsils, the coagulation method is used. This operation is performed without anesthesia, because the laser has an analgesic property.
Endoscopic Adenoid Removal
This is the most advanced method. If with the traditional method, adenoids were excised almost blindly, then with this method the endoscope is inserted into the oral cavity or half of the nose. This allows you to perfectly see the entire surface of the operation. Of course, this method guarantees the complete removal of adenoids. And protects the small patient from their repeated growth.
Anesthesia Methods
This question almost always worries parents. Doctors say that pain relief for adenotomy (surgery to remove adenoids) is not required. Lymphoid tissue does not have nerve endings. In this regard, the patient does not experience pain. The problem lies precisely in the psychological factor. The child is small enough, so he is afraid of the operation.
Western clinics have long been removing adenoids under anesthesia. Today, our hospitals have followed the example of foreign colleagues. At the same time, one should not forget that any anesthesia is a serious risk factor. Especially when it comes to a fragile children's body.
Sometimes operations are performed using local anesthesia. Anesthetics are sprayed onto the mucous membranes. But the psychological factor can play a role. The baby sees blood and is very scared.
Today, most parents insist on general anesthesia for their children, who need to remove adenoids. Reviews indicate that babies in this case more favorably tolerate the operation. They without a shudder recall the ward, the doctors. Children who underwent an adenotomy without "going to sleep" and observed the course of the operation, in most cases received psychological trauma.
The consequences of the operation
Most often, the results are favorable. After the operation (removal of adenoids), the ability to naturally breathe through the nose returns to the babies. Children become less susceptible to viral and colds. In young patients, immunity is significantly strengthened. The auditory function is excellently restored, the quality of speech is improved.
However, in some cases, the results are disappointing - repeated tissue growths are observed.
The reasons for such negative consequences may lie in the following factors:
- Incomplete removal of adenoids. Even a small piece can grow to a significant size.
- Age. According to statistics, patients who underwent surgery up to three years often experience a relapse of the disease.
- Allergy. This factor can reduce immunity. As a result, completely excised tissues may reappear.
Operation Reviews
Almost all parents note that after the removal of adenoids in the child, the condition normalized quite quickly. Children who snored fairly after excision of the nasopharyngeal tonsils got rid of this “habit”. The voice was getting louder.
Parents notice that after the operation, the kids are much less sick. In this case, serious complications and consequences of the common cold are no longer causing. After a while, children suffering from deafness recovered hearing.
Parents also note the fact that delaying the operation leads to deformation of the jaw. As a result, small patients have to wear a special plate or braces.
Conclusion
In connection with the deterioration of the environmental situation, adenoid inflammation began to occur quite often. Conservative treatment is great for some babies. For others, in whom the stage of the disease is started, the removal of adenoids is recommended. In a child, reviews eloquently confirm this, after the operation all functions are restored.