Not a single child has grown up without a cold. This symptom accompanies many diseases: viral, bacterial, allergic. Only a doctor can determine the cause of the appearance of thick mucus in the nose. If a runny nose occurs, you should consult an ENT specialist or pediatrician. If this is not done on time, then acute adenoiditis may develop in the child. Today's article will tell you about this disease, as well as tell you how to treat it.
Acute adenoiditis in a child
Adenoiditis is an inflammation of the lymphoid tissue located in the pharynx. The nasopharyngeal tonsil normally does not cause a person any inconvenience. Some people are not even aware of its existence. Lymphoid tissue is a barrier to infection. It is with it that viruses, bacteria and allergens are primarily encountered. The tonsil, located in the nasopharynx, prevents the infection from getting deeper, taking the main blow on itself. Frequent diseases provoke the growth of lymphoid tissue, resulting in acute adenoiditis. In a child aged 2 to 10 years, this pathology occurs much more often than in older children or newborn babies.
The acute course of the disease requires timely and correct treatment. Otherwise, adenoiditis can become chronic. Such an ailment is much more difficult to cure. It is important to notice the signs of the disease in time and show the child to the otorhinolaryngologist. Consider how acute adenoiditis manifests itself in a child.
Symptoms of the disease
The nature of the signs of the disease in each patient may vary. The more often the body has to deal with infections, the higher the likelihood of a severe course of pathology. Acute adenoiditis in children may have the following symptoms :
- an increase in body temperature (appears due to the body struggling with pathogenic microorganisms and due to the release of toxins);
- purulent, mucous and thick discharge from the nose;
- sensation of a lump in the larynx, foreign body (occurs due to the accumulation of thick mucus and its draining down the back of the throat);
- swelling and nasal congestion;
- nausea and snoring (in a dream, breathing is heavy and shallow, mainly with the mouth);
- hearing loss due to stuffy ears (ear pain can occur with complications of otitis media);
- debilitating unproductive morning cough (appears due to irritation of the larynx with thick mucus);
- sore throat, perspiration (the infection can switch to pharyngeal tonsils, then we are talking about a complication of tonsillitis);
- adenoid face (appears with a long-term illness, the child has an open mouth and an oval of the face is extended).
Patients with acute adenoiditis may have several symptoms. Often there are cases when parents turn to the doctor with a complaint about a long squishy nose, poor sleep, a violation of normal breathing. But nevertheless, it forces the baby to show the ENT to a temperature that rose completely suddenly.
What does the doctor see?
Before treating acute adenoiditis in a child, it is necessary to establish the stage of the disease. To do this, the doctor asks the patient about disturbing signs and makes an independent examination. You can examine the inflamed tonsils through the nose or mouth. There are several forms of the acute course of the disease:
- tonsils cover only the upper part of the nasal septum;
- adenoids have grown by 2/3 of the coulter;
- lymphoid tissue covers almost the entire bone septum.
Note that the higher the stage of the disease, the more pronounced its symptoms. It is quite simple to treat mild forms, but few seek medical help at that moment. Many moms and dads try to eliminate the common cold on their own. As a result, the healed child feels worse and worse, and hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal tonsils takes on a more pronounced form.
Conservative or surgical treatment?
Each parent who has encountered the described problem raises the question of how to treat acute adenoiditis in a child. 4-year-olds often have surgery. The procedure is called adenotomy. Why at this age?
According to statistics, children begin to attend kindergartens from 2-3 years. During this period, a small body has to deal with a large number of viruses and bacteria. Before the crumbs recovered from the previous illness, the little squirts flowed again. All this provokes the growth of lymphoid tissue. By the age of four, many children have nasopharyngeal tonsils that are so large that they cannot breathe normally. They are forced to receive oxygen by breathing through the mouth, which negatively affects the work of all organs and systems. At this point, the doctor reports that it is necessary to remove the overgrown tissue. It is worth noting that this does not always lead to the complete elimination of the problem, because the body loses its protective barrier. Now pathogens easily fall into the lower respiratory tract. In addition, in many children, the nasopharyngeal tonsils again grow over time. Doctors consider the operation a last resort. Before her, doctors are trying to cure the disease by conservative methods.
Nasal lavage and swelling
What to do if an acute purulent adenoiditis has occurred in a child? Treatment should begin with a cleansing of the inflamed tonsils. Lymphoid tissue secretes a thick secret, in which bacteria quickly multiply. For productive treatment, they need to be eliminated. Using simple manipulations, wash off pathogenic microorganisms from the nasopharyngeal tonsils. Now in the pharmacy you can buy a lot of drugs and devices for this: Dolphin, Rinostop, Aquamaris, and so on. You can use saline or prepare a salt concentrate yourself. It is not recommended to wash the nose of the child with otitis media.
The second step in the treatment of adenoiditis is the removal of edema. You can use vasoconstrictor drops or sprays: Otrivin, Nazivin, Vibrocil. It is necessary for the child to introduce them into the nose in a dose strictly prescribed by the instructions and not more than 3-5 days. Often, parents are faced with the fact that such funds do not help. In such cases, doctors prescribe corticosteroid formulations: Avamis, Nazonex and others. All of them are designed to relieve swelling, reduce inflammation and facilitate breathing of the child. A specialist can prescribe a Rinofluimucil medicine to a small patient. This spray helps thin the thick mucus and quickly remove it.
Antibiotic use
Are antimicrobials needed for acute adenoiditis? In most cases, such drugs are necessary. Pathology is accompanied by the formation of a purulent secretion, in which bacterial colonies are growing rapidly. Medications that eliminate them are prescribed in the form of nasal drops and sprays, as well as medications for oral administration. In acute adenoiditis, the penicillin series is preferred. If there is no high temperature, and the disease appeared long ago, then macrolides are prescribed.
Antimicrobials and antiseptics can be administered to the nose. Isofra and Protorgol are very popular. The first drug fights bacteria, and the second has an antiseptic effect. Older children are assigned a "Polydex". Phenylephrine is present in this medication. This component facilitates breathing, relieving swelling, itching. If adenoiditis is complicated by otitis media, then antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs are injected into the ears. Doctors prescribe Otipax, Otinum, Dioxidin, Otofu.
Immunomodulators and reducing agents
You can already roughly imagine what the treatment of acute adenoiditis in children is. The drugs used in otorhinolaryngology are most often voiced for you. Doctors also recommend that young patients with hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal tonsils take vitamin complexes aimed at increasing immunity. Appropriate medications may be prescribed, for example Likopid, Interferon. Irs-19 nasal spray is in great demand. It increases the body's resistance, promotes rapid recovery.
Acute adenoiditis in children: Komarovsky advises
Famous in many countries, a children's doctor Yevgeny Komarovsky recommends following the regimen during treatment of adenoiditis. The doctor says that surrounding a child with normal comfortable conditions is 50% recovery. Hypertrophy and inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil suggests constant hydration of the nasal passages. The air in the room where the patient is located should be sufficiently moist and cool. The pediatrician says that you need to walk with a sick baby for at least 2-3 hours a day (except in cases when the baby has a fever). Komarovsky advises drinking more. In the absence of appetite, do not force the child to eat by force. Provide the patient with peace and positive emotions. The pediatrician advises using antipyretic drugs only in cases when the body temperature rises to 38.5 degrees.
Summarize
You have learned what acute adenoiditis is in children. Symptoms and treatment of pathology are presented to your attention. All medicines should be prescribed to the child only by a specialist. Do not think that you can cope with the problem yourself. Believe me, acute adenoiditis is much easier to cure than to eliminate the chronic stage of the disease. Good luck!