Frequent colds in a child, accompanied by nasal congestion and runny nose, may indicate the development of adenoiditis. A similar ailment is most often diagnosed among babies who attend preschool. How to deal with this problem? Currently, experts recommend laser treatment of adenoids in children . Let us consider in more detail what constitutes this method and its effectiveness.
Adenoids - what is it?
At the junction of the pharynx and nose, a person has the tonsil, which is called nasopharyngeal or adenoids. The organ itself is a section of lymphoepithelial tissue that forms the pharyngeal ring.
The main function of the tonsils is to "capture" pathogens that enter the body through the oral cavity, and the production of lymphocytes. It is developed mainly in young children and actively "works" during the formation of immunity. Why, then, can adenoids cause various pathological conditions? Let's try to figure it out.
The main reason for calls to ENT is nasal congestion. In babies, a similar problem often develops against the background of proliferation of tissues of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. This condition is called adenoiditis. Inflammation of adenoids in children is usually a symptom of another disease, but in some cases they can become a separate problem of a chronic nature.
Causes of pathology
The proliferation of lymphoid tissue can occur if the child has a hereditary predisposition associated with impaired functioning of the lymphatic and endocrine systems. In addition to an increased risk of developing adenoiditis, such children have lethargy, constant fatigue, apathy - direct symptoms of thyroid pathologies.
If the child is often ill with colds, the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils simply does not have time to return to normal. Because of this, adenoids are constantly in an inflamed state. A similar phenomenon is often observed in babies who attend kindergartens.
Regular contact with an irritant (allergen) also contributes to a continuous inflammatory process in the nasopharyngeal tonsil.
What else can provoke an increase in adenoids? Komarovsky E.O. - a well-known pediatrician, whose opinion is listened to by most modern parents, claims that adenoiditis can develop even when inhaling too dry air or overheating. If in the room where the child spends most of the time, the air parameters do not meet the recommended standards, it becomes more difficult for the baby to breathe through his nose. Overdried mucosa does not fulfill its task and begins to miss viruses and microbes, which then cause inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil.
Symptoms
The presence of some symptoms may indicate inflammation of the adenoids in children. Signs of illness include:
- constant or intermittent nasal congestion, which leads to deterioration of nasal breathing;
- during sleep, snoring occurs;
- night sleep is disturbed due to the fact that the child is forced to breathe through the mouth;
- after sleep, a dry barking cough occurs;
- the child begins to gundos, the voice changes;
- otitis media more often, hearing weakens;
- chest deformity develops (in advanced cases);
- the sense of smell worsens.
Diagnostics
To determine the degree of development of the pathological process and choose a method of therapy, diagnosis will be required. Currently, otolaryngologists most often carry out pharyngoscopy, anterior and posterior rhinoscopy. More accurately determine the degree of adenoiditis allows x-ray of the nasopharynx and video endoscopy. After confirming the diagnosis, a laser treatment of adenoids in children may be required. However, conservative treatment options may be tried first.
Treatment methods
At the initial and middle stages of the development of pathology, doctors recommend conducting drug therapy aimed at reducing the size of adenoids and strengthening the protective forces of the child's body. EO Komarovsky adenoids recommends starting treatment as soon as possible. Indeed, only in this case it will be possible to avoid serious consequences.
The most popular methods are flushing the nasal passages, topical application of antiseptic agents, instillation of hormonal and vasoconstrictive drops. Physiotherapy will help to enhance the effect of drugs: warming up, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis and laser therapy.
Laser application
One of the most common ways to treat inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil is laser therapy. This is a fairly effective method that belongs to the category of physiotherapy. Laser treatment of adenoids in children avoids surgery. Although until some time only tonsillectomy was considered the most rational treatment option.
When using a medical laser, the overgrown lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil is heated. This can be achieved due to the occurrence of light flashes with different amplitudes. Light types of lasers allow the transfer of light energy to cells and accelerate blood circulation in tissues. The device has anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial effects.
Indications for laser therapy
Using a laser for adenoids in children is recommended only in cases where the disease is at the first or second stage of development. At these stages, this method of treatment is still able to have a positive effect. If the child is completely unable to breathe through the nose due to an enlarged tonsil in the nasopharynx, the doctor can only recommend surgical removal of adenoids.
Until the age of three, the procedure is prescribed for babies with any degree of hypertrophy of the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. The impact of laser radiation in such cases helps to significantly slow down the process of increasing adenoids or to completely prevent it and to avoid further surgery.
Laser treatment of adenoids even to the smallest children. This method has many advantages:
- no pain;
- for the procedure, you do not need to go to hospital;
- the beam of a light device affects only inflamed tissue;
- manipulation leads to an improvement in metabolic processes, which contributes to a speedy recovery;
- laser radiation improves the absorption of drugs and enhances their effectiveness;
- rehabilitation after manipulation is very fast.
Laser cutting of adenoids
In children with a severe degree of development of adenoiditis, the ability to breathe through the nose may completely disappear. This, in turn, leads to hypoxia of the brain, impaired cardiac activity. Oxygen starvation leads to poor memory, constant weakness, drowsiness.
There is a huge risk of respiratory arrest during sleep. Constant breathing through the mouth causes a change in the skeleton of the face and deforms the chest. In such cases, only laser removal of adenoids in children is indicated. Feedback on the consequences of such a procedure is positive. To carry it out, specialists use high-frequency lasers, which are called “surgical knives” in practice.
Reviews suggest that the manipulation is usually carried out under local anesthesia. In some cases, during the operation, the removal of areas of overgrown lymphoid tissue has to be done with a scalpel, and only after that a laser is used.
Laser removal of vegetation occurs by evaporation of the liquid. The doctor at the same time directs the beam to the swollen tissue, heats and excises the area. With a large volume, a repeat of the procedure will be required.
Methods
Laser removal of overgrown nasopharyngeal tonsil tissue can be performed using the coagulation method. This method is used only for large areas of vegetation. Adenoid removal is carried out by means of a burn.
Cauterization of adenoids in children with a carbon dioxide laser is used only in cases when the nasopharyngeal tonsils are slightly enlarged . The technique allows you to smooth out overgrown tissue structures due to the evaporation of water.
Interstitial coagulation also allows the submucosal tissue structures to be evaporated without damaging the tonsils. Laser destruction can be prescribed after surgical removal of adenoids. In this case, the specialist removes most of the overgrown tissues in a standard way, and the laser beam helps subsequently evaporate the remaining inflamed areas.
Contraindications to the procedure
Laser cutting of adenoids is carried out only according to strict indications. The need for such a procedure is determined by a specialist after a preliminary diagnosis.
In some cases, this method of therapy is contraindicated. It is not prescribed for blood diseases, thyroid dysfunction, cardiovascular ailments, open tuberculosis.
Preparation and conduct of manipulation
Before the procedure, the baby must be shown to the otolaryngologist. The doctor determines the degree of development of adenoiditis and makes a decision about the need for laser removal of overgrown tissues.
It is impossible to start treatment of adenoids in children with a laser without first passing laboratory tests. A general blood test is required to exclude the presence of other inflammatory processes in the body. A coagulogram allows you to determine blood coagulability.
The duration of the procedure should be determined by a specialist. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the removal of adenoids in several sessions.
Where are adenoids removed with a laser? For children, a similar procedure is carried out only in specialized ENT rooms. The cost will depend on the chosen method of therapy.
Rehabilitation
After removal of the adenoids by the laser and subject to the recommendations of the doctor, the risk of relapse of the disease is reduced to 15%. According to reviews, it is possible to fully recover in a month.
To speed up rehabilitation and avoid negative consequences, it is necessary to release the child from physical activity for at least 2 weeks. Only warm food and drinks can be consumed. It is highly recommended not to overheat the baby.
Necessarily prescribed breathing exercises, which will help improve gas exchange in the lungs. It is advisable that the humidifier is constantly working in the child’s room.
In the future, it is important to choose a set of measures aimed at strengthening the body's defenses. This may be taking vitamin-containing products, regular sports, long walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition, the use of alternative methods of strengthening the immune system.