Adenoids are the nasopharyngeal tonsils. They are part of the body’s immune system. In the mode of normal functioning, they serve as a reliable barrier, preventing the penetration of bacteria, microbes and viruses into the internal environment. In childhood, adenoids are more pronounced, as they grow older they decrease in size. Specialists know how to treat adenoids in children without surgery until a certain stage of the development of pathology. In some cases, surgery cannot be avoided.
general description
Enlarged adenoids are one of the most common childhood diseases. Pathology is sluggish with periodic relapses of inflammation and severe complications. The proliferation of nasopharyngeal tissue is called adenoids.
Most often it affects children aged 3 to 7 years. As the inflammation decays, the adenoid tissue returns to its normal state and takes on a natural form without causing any inconvenience. By adolescence, the pathology recedes, but the problem cannot be ignored, since it brings detrimental effects on the development of the child.
Reasons for the appearance
Pediatricians and otolaryngologists cannot determine the exact causes of the disease and do not know why some of the children suffer from this pathology, and some are not even familiar with minimal symptoms.
There are certain factors that contribute to the development of pathology, namely:
- Heredity, adverse living conditions (increased dryness or humidity in the room, occasional ventilation, dustiness).
- Infectious diseases affecting the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx (rubella, measles, diphtheria, scarlet fever, etc.).
- Frequent respiratory diseases or chronic upper respiratory tract diseases.
- Tendency to allergic reactions (bronchial asthma, sinusitis, etc.).
- Ecology (living in an environmentally disadvantaged area, in places of industrial emissions, gas pollution, etc.).
Forms and stages
How to treat adenoids in a child should be determined by a doctor based on the data of analyzes, the form and stage of the disease.
The clinical picture reflects 4 stages of pathology:
- Stage 1 - tonsils are enlarged and occupy ¼ of the lumen. Breathing through the nasal passages is difficult, especially at night.
- Stage 2 - adenoids block 2/4 of the respiratory passages of the nose, making breathing difficult in the daytime, at night the child starts snoring.
- 3 and 4 stages - the nasal passages are blocked almost completely or completely, breathing occurs through the mouth.
Forms of the course of the disease:
- Acute - the course of the disease is accompanied by a high temperature, difficulty breathing through the nose, signs of intoxication are manifested. Acute adenoids are often accompanied by tonsillitis.
- Chronic - the child often coughs for a long time, quickly gets tired, his hearing loss is disturbed, his sleep becomes restless, his appetite is significantly reduced, and complaints of a headache appear.
Symptoms of the disease
The acute course of the disease prompts parents to consult a doctor immediately, where diagnosis is a matter of time and several studies. A specialist at the first appointment can give recommendations on how to treat adenoids in a child. A chronic manifestation of the pathology is not immediately noticed, but there are a number of signs that give an occasion to consult a pediatrician.
Classic symptoms:
- The baby has difficulty sucking, as a result of which he often remains hungry.
- Difficulty breathing through the nose.
- The child swallows with difficulty, does not distinguish smells.
- During sleep, snoring appears, restless sleep.
- Almost all the time, breathing occurs through the mouth.
- The voice is quiet, articulation is broken, apathetic behavior.
- There may be complaints of someone in the throat, headache, fatigue.
The child’s appearance acquires features uncharacteristic for his age — constantly open mouth, sagging jaw, malocclusion, smoothed nasolabial folds, etc. When examined, the ENT doctor may detect a curved nasal septum, chest deformity.
Dangers of the disease
Having discovered a pathology in a child, most parents find out how to treat adenoids in children at home. Adequate therapy can only be prescribed by a specialist after a series of diagnostic procedures. The course of the disease has its own characteristics in each case, ignorance of the nuances can be harmful.
Adenoids cause the following complications:
- Chronic otitis media, hearing impairment, followed by hearing loss.
- Weakening of the immune system, which provokes allergic reactions and frequent infectious diseases.
- Difficulties with breathing cause speech, memory impairment.
- Inflammatory diseases (tonsillitis, pneumonia, tracheitis, etc.).
- Viral diseases of the respiratory system (ARI, SARS, etc.).
- Decrease in working capacity, concentration, school performance.
Diagnostic Methods
To determine how to treat adenoids in a child, a number of studies are required to develop therapy tactics. Depending on the form of the pathology and the degree of tissue overgrowth, the doctor selects medications and a number of physiotherapeutic procedures. Conservative treatment is susceptible to stages 1 and 2 of the disease, 3 or 4 require surgical intervention.
To clarify the full picture of the disease, possible or existing complications, the doctor prescribes these types of tests:
- General clinical analysis of blood and urine.
- Pharyngoscopy - assesses the condition of the tonsils of the palate and pharynx.
- Anterior rhinoscopy is a visual examination, vasoconstrictor drops in the nose are used for diagnosis.
- Rear rhinoscopy - visual inspection with a special mirror through the mouth.
- X-ray diagnostics in a lateral projection to clarify the diagnosis.
- Endoscopy - a detailed examination. When prescribing to young children, diagnosis is carried out using anesthesia.
- Cytological studies.
Treatment of adenoids of the first degree
Adenoids pass with the child growing up, but the possible consequences can significantly affect his further state of health. The blocked, even partially, nasal passages do not allow the brain to receive oxygen in full, and the lungs, lacking full functionality, also suffer. Other organs and systems lie in wait for no lesser problems.
The first degree of pathology is successfully treatable, the disease cannot be cured, but its manifestations become minimal. According to most experts, in order to prevent further tissue growth, it is enough 3-5 times a day to rinse the nasopharynx with saline or drugs based on sea water.
The use of alternative recipes is allowed, but in this case, a doctor's consultation is required. In folk medicine, a large number of herbal ingredients are used, which can cause allergies, especially in young children.
How and how to rinse your nose
Specialists have long known how adenoids are treated in children in the nose during the first stage of the disease. The best method of conservative therapy is the washing and wetting of the nasopharynx at least 3 times a day. For the procedure, saline or seawater-based preparations are used.
For cooking, it is enough to dissolve 1 teaspoon of sea salt (can be replaced with table salt) and soda in one glass of warm water. Having achieved complete dissolution of the crystals, you can proceed to the procedure. In home recipes there is a danger - the lack of sterility of all ingredients, the approximation of the recipe, the risk of damage when entering the nasal cavity.
Specialists recommend using pharmacy products, most of which are isotonic solutions based on sea or ocean water. A positive effect is seen when using such funds:
- Saline solution is sterile.
- Aquapor series for babies and children.
- Salin, etc.
The best results are shown in the form of a spray, for children under one year of age - in the form of drops. If the child already knows how to blow his nose independently, then it is possible to use special systems for washing the nasopharynx (Aquamaris, Dolphin, etc.). To use a syringe for washing, syringing is strictly prohibited. Without calculating the strength, you can apply a tool with excessive pressure, which will cause otitis media.
Adenoids of the 2nd degree: therapy
The disease may worsen and move on to the next stage. In this case, the therapy is extended. How to treat adenoids in a child of 2 stages of development? First of all, you need to see a doctor, go through a full range of diagnostics, and then follow the doctor’s instructions. Usually, in addition to washing the nose, vasoconstrictors are prescribed to restore normal breathing and eliminate edema.
Drops and sprays of this series of drugs are used no longer than 3 or 5 days in a row. With prolonged use, addiction develops, and adenoids are exacerbated by chronic rhinitis. If the measures taken do not help and the disease progresses, then a course of antibiotics based on amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid is prescribed.
The duo enhances the action, but acid can cause exacerbations if the baby has a diagnosed ulcer or erosion of the stomach, intestines. In this case, the doctor selects another combination of medications.
Experts recommend a combined approach. How to treat grade 2 adenoids in a child with physiotherapeutic methods? Doctors recommend such procedures: electrophoresis, laser therapy, cryotherapy, UHF.
When is surgery needed?
A surgical operation is always an intervention in the body, and many try to avoid such an aggravation, trying to understand how to treat adenoids in a child of the 3rd stage of the disease. In some cases, pus is aspirated. The procedure is performed by an experienced specialist. If you do not take such steps, then pus will continue to migrate to the rest of the nasopharynx. When all possible methods of conservative therapy are exhausted, an adenotomy is prescribed.
The best age for intervention is from 3 to 6 years. Surgery at a young age increases the chances of relapse. Indications for:
- The presence of adenoids 3-4 degrees of development. Sometimes such recommendations are given in the acute course of the disease, classified as grade 2, but obvious signs of a qualitative leap into a more severe form are visible.
- Frequent otitis media, colds.
- Night snoring and suffocation during sleep.
In some cases, doctors refuse to perform the operation, and this is due to existing diseases of the blood, skin. Additional intervention will cause complications, then conservative methods are used that require the exact execution of all procedures.
Prevention
There are no special and mandatory measures to prevent the appearance of adenoids. There are recommendations that reduce the risk of a disease:
- Strengthening immunity (hardening, low temperature in the bedroom, sports, walking).
- Wet cleaning at least 3 times a week.
- It is worth getting rid of objects that actively collect dust (soft toys, long-haired floor coverings, books on open shelves, etc.).
- Take measures to destroy mold in the premises and in the future prevent its occurrence.
- Be sure to treat colds and viral diseases.
It is believed that it is impossible to insure against the appearance of adenoids in children. Komarovsky tells how to treat this disease both in books and in a telecast in detail. But he also indicates that in the case of indications for surgery, it should not be postponed. Procrastination will lead to complications.