Inflammation of the adenoids in children: causes, symptoms, treatment. Treatment of adenoids in children: affordable and effective means

IN normal conditions The pharyngeal tonsil is represented by several folds of lymphoid tissue protruding above the surface of the mucous membrane of the posterior wall of the pharynx. It is part of the so-called pharyngeal lymphatic ring, which is represented by several immune glands. These glands consist mainly of lymphocytes - immunocompetent cells involved in the regulation and provision of immunity, that is, the body’s ability to protect itself from the effects of foreign bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.

The pharyngeal lymphatic ring is formed by:

• Nasopharyngeal (pharyngeal) tonsil. The unpaired tonsil is located in the mucous membrane of the posterior-superior part of the pharynx.
• Lingual tonsil. Unpaired, located in the mucous membrane of the root of the tongue.
• Two palatine tonsils. These tonsils are quite large, located in the oral cavity on the sides of the entrance to the pharynx.
• Two tubal tonsils. They are located in the lateral walls of the pharynx, near the openings of the auditory tubes. The auditory tube is a narrow canal that connects the tympanic cavity (middle ear) to the pharynx. IN tympanic cavity contains the auditory ossicles (incus, malleus and stapes), which are connected to the eardrum. They provide perception and amplification of sound waves. The physiological function of the auditory tube is to equalize the pressure between the tympanic cavity and the atmosphere, which is necessary for normal perception of sounds. The role of the tubal tonsils in this case is to prevent infection from entering the auditory tube and further into the middle ear.

In addition to the local antimicrobial effect, the lymphoid tissue of the pharyngeal ring also performs other functions. In this area, primary contact of the immune system with foreign microorganisms occurs, after which lymphoid cells transfer information about them to other immune tissues of the body, ensuring the preparation of the immune system for protection.

Causes of adenoids

• Age characteristics of the child's body. Upon contact with each foreign microorganism, the immune system produces specific antibodies against it, which can circulate in the body for a long time. As a child grows (especially after 3 years of age, when children begin to attend kindergartens and be in crowded places), his immune system comes into contact with an increasing number of new microorganisms, which can lead to an overactive immune system and the development of adenoids. In some children, enlarged tonsils may be asymptomatic until adulthood, while in other cases breathing problems and other symptoms of the disease may develop.
• Congenital developmental anomalies. During the formation of organs in the prenatal period, various disturbances may be observed, which can be provoked by environmental factors (for example, polluted atmospheric air, high background radiation), injuries or chronic diseases of the mother, abuse of alcoholic beverages or drugs (by the mother or father of the child). The result of this may be a congenital enlargement of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. A genetic predisposition to adenoids is also possible, but there is no specific data confirming this fact.
• Frequent infectious diseases. Chronic or often recurrent (repeatedly exacerbating) diseases of the upper respiratory tract (sore throat, pharyngitis, bronchitis) can lead to dysregulation inflammatory process in the lymphoid ring of the pharynx, which may result in an enlargement of the nasopharyngeal tonsil and the appearance of adenoids. Special risk in this regard, they represent acute respiratory viral diseases (ARVI), that is, colds, flu.
• Allergic diseases. The mechanisms of inflammation during infection and during the development of allergic reactions are largely similar. In addition, the immune system of an allergic child is initially predisposed to more pronounced reactions in response to infection entering the body, which can also contribute to hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil.
• Harmful environmental factors. If a child breathes air contaminated with dust or harmful chemical compounds for a long time, this can lead to non-infectious inflammation of the lymphoid formations of the nasopharynx and proliferation of the adenoids.

Symptoms of adenoids

Symptoms of adenoids are:

• violation of nasal breathing;
• hearing impairment;
• facial deformation.

Impaired nasal breathing with adenoids

The nature and degree of breathing impairment are determined by the size of the hypertrophied (enlarged) tonsil. Due to lack of air, children sleep poorly at night, snore and wheeze during sleep, and often wake up. While awake, they often breathe through their mouth, which is constantly slightly open. The child may speak unintelligibly, nasally, or “talk through his nose.”

As the disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult for the child to breathe, and his general state. Because of oxygen starvation and inadequate sleep, a pronounced lag in mental and physical development may appear.

Runny nose with adenoids

Such children are forced to constantly carry a scarf or napkins with them. Over time, damage to the skin (redness, itching) may occur in the area of ​​the nasolabial folds, associated with the aggressive effects of secreted mucus (nasal mucus contains special substances, the main function of which is to kill and destroy pathogenic microorganisms that enter the nose).

Cough with adenoids

Hearing impairment due to adenoids

If the adenoids block the lumen of only one auditory tube, there will be a decrease in hearing on the affected side. If both pipes are blocked, hearing will be impaired on both sides. In the initial stages of the disease, hearing loss can be temporary, associated with swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and pharyngeal tonsil in various infectious diseases of this area. After the inflammatory process subsides, tissue swelling decreases, the lumen of the auditory tube is cleared, and hearing impairment disappears. In the later stages, adenoid vegetations can reach enormous sizes and completely block the lumens of the auditory tubes, which will lead to permanent hearing loss.

Temperature in adenoids

Facial deformity due to adenoids

“Adenoid face” is characterized by:

• Semi open mouth. Due to difficulty in nasal breathing, the child is forced to breathe through the mouth. If this condition lasts long enough, it can become a habit, as a result of which even after the adenoids are removed, the child will continue to breathe through the mouth. Correction of this condition requires long-term and painstaking work with the child, both from doctors and from parents.
• Drooping and elongated lower jaw. Due to the fact that the child's mouth is constantly open, the lower jaw gradually lengthens and stretches, which leads to malocclusion. Over time, certain deformations occur in the area of ​​the temporomandibular joint, as a result of which contractures (fusions) can form in it.
• Deformation of the hard palate. Occurs due to the lack of normal nasal breathing. The hard palate is located high and may not be developed correctly, which in turn leads to improper growth and placement of teeth.
• Indifferent facial expression. With a long course of the disease (months, years), the process of oxygen delivery to tissues, in particular to the brain, is significantly disrupted. This can lead to a pronounced delay of the child in mental development, impaired memory, mental and emotional activity.

Diagnosis of adenoids

To diagnose adenoids the following is used:

• Posterior rhinoscopy. A simple test that allows you to visually assess the degree of enlargement of the pharyngeal tonsil. It is performed using a small mirror, which is inserted by the doctor through the mouth into the throat. The examination is painless, therefore it can be performed on all children and has virtually no contraindications.

• Digital examination of the nasopharynx. It is also quite an informative study that allows you to determine by touch the degree of enlargement of the tonsils. Before the examination, the doctor puts on sterile gloves and stands on the side of the child, after which he presses the outside of his cheek with his left hand finger (to prevent jaw closure and injury), and with his index finger right hand quickly examines the adenoids, choanae and posterior wall of the nasopharynx.
• X-ray studies. Simple radiography in frontal and lateral projection allows you to identify adenoids that have reached large sizes. Sometimes patients are prescribed computed tomography, which allows a more detailed assessment of the nature of changes in the pharyngeal tonsil, the degree of overlap of the choanae and other changes.
• Endoscopic examination. An endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx can provide fairly detailed information. Its essence is to insert an endoscope (a special flexible tube at one end of which a video camera is attached) into the nasopharynx through the nose (endoscopic rhinoscopy) or through the mouth (endoscopic epipharyngoscopy), while data from the camera is transmitted to the monitor. This allows you to visually examine the adenoids and assess the degree of patency of the choanae and auditory tubes. To prevent discomfort or reflex vomiting, 10-15 minutes before the start of the study, the mucous membrane of the pharynx is treated with an anesthetic spray - a substance that reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings (for example, lidocaine or novocaine).
• Audiometry. Allows to identify hearing impairment in children with adenoids. The essence of the procedure is as follows: the child sits in a chair and puts on headphones, after which the doctor begins to play sound recordings of a certain intensity (the sound is first sent to one ear, then to the other). When the child hears the sound, he must give a signal.
• Lab tests. Laboratory tests are not mandatory for adenoids, as they do not confirm or refute the diagnosis. In the same time, bacteriological examination(seeding a nasopharyngeal smear on nutrient media to identify bacteria) sometimes makes it possible to determine the cause of the disease and prescribe adequate treatment. Changes in the general blood test (an increase in the concentration of leukocytes by more than 9 x 10 9 / l and an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) by more than 10 - 15 mm per hour) may indicate the presence of an infectious-inflammatory process in the body.

Degrees of enlargement of adenoids

Depending on the size adenoid vegetations highlight:

• Adenoids of the 1st degree. Clinically, this stage may not manifest itself in any way. IN daytime the child breathes freely through the nose, but at night there may be disturbances in nasal breathing, snoring, and rare awakenings. This is explained by the fact that at night the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx swells slightly, which leads to an increase in the size of the adenoids. When examining the nasopharynx, small adenoid growths can be detected, covering up to 30–35% of the vomer (the bone involved in the formation of the nasal septum), slightly blocking the lumen of the choanae (the openings connecting the nasal cavity to the nasopharynx).
• Adenoids grade 2. In this case, the adenoids grow so much that they cover more than half of the vomer, which already affects the child’s ability to breathe through the nose. Nasal breathing is difficult, but still preserved. The child often breathes through his mouth (usually after physical exertion or emotional stress). At night there is severe snoring and frequent awakenings. At this stage, excessive mucous discharge from the nose, cough and other symptoms of the disease may appear, but signs of chronic lack of oxygen occur extremely rarely.
• Adenoids grade 3. At stage 3 of the disease, the hypertrophied pharyngeal tonsil completely blocks the choanae, making nasal breathing impossible. All the symptoms described above are very pronounced. Symptoms of oxygen starvation appear and progress, deformations of the facial skeleton may appear, the child may lag behind in mental and physical development, and so on.

Treatment of adenoids without surgery

Conservative treatment of adenoids includes:

• drug treatment;
• nasal drops and sprays;
• nasal rinsing;

• breathing exercises;

Treatment of adenoids with medications

Drug treatment adenoids

Drops and sprays in the nose for adenoids

Local drug treatment of adenoids

Nasal rinsing for adenoids

The positive effects of nasal rinsing are:

• Mechanical removal of mucus and pathogenic microorganisms from the surface of the nasopharynx and adenoids.
• Antimicrobial effect exerted by saline solutions.
• Anti-inflammatory effect.
• Anti-edema effect.

You can rinse your nose in one of the following ways:

• Tilt your head so that one nasal passage is higher than the other. Inject a few milliliters of solution into the superior nostril, which should flow out through the inferior nostril. Repeat the procedure 3 – 5 times.
• Tilt your head back and introduce 5–10 ml of solution into one nasal passage, while holding your breath. After 5 - 15 seconds, tilt your head down and let the solution flow out, then repeat the procedure 3 - 5 times.

Inhalations for adenoids

• Dry inhalations. To do this, you can use oils of fir, eucalyptus, mint, 2-3 drops of which should be applied to a clean handkerchief and allow the child to breathe through it for 3-5 minutes.
• Wet inhalations. In this case, the child must breathe steam containing particles of medicinal substances. The same oils (5 - 10 drops) can be added to just boiled water, after which the child should bend over the container with water and breathe in the steam for 5 - 10 minutes.
• Salt inhalations. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to 500 ml of water. Bring the solution to a boil, remove from heat and breathe in the steam for 5 - 7 minutes. You can also add 1 – 2 drops of essential oils to the solution.
• Inhalation using a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a special nebulizer into which an aqueous solution is placed medicinal oil. The drug sprays it into small particles, which enter the patient’s nose through a tube, irrigating the mucous membranes and penetrating hard-to-reach places.

• moisturizing the mucous membrane (with the exception of dry inhalations);
• improvement of blood circulation in the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx;
• reduction in the amount of mucous secretions;
• increasing the local protective properties of the mucous membrane;
• anti-inflammatory effect;
• anti-edema effect;
• antibacterial effect.

Physiotherapy for adenoids

For adenoids the following is prescribed:

• Ultraviolet irradiation (UVR). To irradiate the mucous membranes of the nose, a special device is used, the long tip of which is inserted into the nasal passages one at a time (this prevents ultraviolet rays from entering the eyes and other parts of the body). Has antibacterial and immunostimulating effects.
• Ozone therapy. Application of ozone (a reactive form of oxygen) to the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx has an antibacterial and antifungal effect, stimulates local immunity and improves metabolic processes in tissues.
• Laser therapy. Laser exposure leads to an increase in the temperature of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, dilation of blood and lymphatic vessels, and improvement of microcirculation. Laser radiation is also harmful to many forms of pathogenic microorganisms.

Breathing exercises for adenoids

For adenoids, breathing exercises help:

• reducing the severity of inflammatory and allergic processes;
• reducing the amount of mucus secreted;
• reducing the severity of cough;
• normalization of nasal breathing;
• improving microcirculation and metabolic processes in the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx.

• 1 exercise. While standing on your feet, you need to take 4-5 sharp active breaths through the nose, each of which should be followed by a slow (for 3-5 seconds), passive exhalation through the mouth.
• Exercise 2. Starting position – standing, legs together. At the beginning of the exercise, you should slowly tilt your torso forward, trying to reach the floor with your hands. At the end of the bend (when your hands almost touch the floor), you need to take a sharp, deep breath through your nose. Exhalation should be done slowly, while returning to the starting position.
• Exercise 3. Starting position – standing, feet shoulder-width apart. The exercise should begin with a slow squat, at the end of which you should do a deep sharp breath. Exhalation is also performed slowly, smoothly, through the mouth.
• Exercise 4 While standing on your feet, you should alternately turn your head to the right and left, then tilt it forward and back, and at the end of each turn and tilt, take a sharp breath through the nose, followed by a passive exhalation through the mouth.

Treatment of adenoids with folk remedies at home

To treat adenoids you can use:

• Aqueous extract of propolis. Add 50 grams of crushed propolis to 500 ml of water and leave in a water bath for an hour. Strain and take half a teaspoon orally 3-4 times a day. It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral effects, and also strengthens the immune system.
• Aloe juice. For topical use, instill 1 - 2 drops of aloe juice into each nasal passage 2 - 3 times a day. Has an antibacterial and astringent effect.
• A collection of oak bark, St. John's wort and mint. To prepare the collection, you need to mix 2 full tablespoons of crushed oak bark, 1 spoon of St. John's wort and 1 spoon peppermint. Pour the resulting mixture with 1 liter of water, bring to a boil and boil for 4 - 5 minutes. Cool at room temperature for 3–4 hours, strain and instill 2–3 drops of the mixture into each child’s nasal passage in the morning and evening. Has an astringent and antimicrobial effect.
• Sea buckthorn oil. It has anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and antibacterial effects. Should be used twice a day, instilling 2 drops into each nasal passage.

Adenoids is a pathological process that occurs as a result of the proliferation of lymphoid and connective tissue in the nasopharynx area. In the place where adenoid lymphatic formations are usually located, they serve to prevent the spread of infection in children from the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses) further into the body.

The disease often occurs among both boys and girls between the ages of three and fourteen, fifteen years.

Anatomy and physiology of adenoids

Formations of lymphoid tissue are also found at the transition of the oral and nasal cavities to the pharynx and larynx, respectively. It is this localization of these formations that makes it possible to more reliably prevent infection from entering the body. Microbes from the air or from food eaten, passing through the lymphatic follicles, are retained and destroyed.

Lymphoid tissue in these places is represented by connective tissue and lymphatic follicles. Together they form lobules and are called tonsils.
There are six lymphatic tonsils, which together make up the lymphatic pharyngeal ring.

• lingual- located at the root of the tongue.
• Palatal- paired tonsils, which are located on both sides of the upper palate.
• Pipe- also paired tonsils, and are located slightly behind the palatine tonsils, at the beginning of the tubal passages connecting the oral cavity with the middle ear cavity.
• Nasopharyngeal - adenoids. Are located on back wall nasopharynx, at the junction between the exit of the nasal cavity into the oral cavity.

Causes of inflammation of the adenoids

1. First of all, it is necessary to note the pathological processes occurring in the mother during pregnancy, as well as the presence of birth injuries that contribute to this disease.

1. The second category of causes appears during the development of the child, starting from the period of gradual maturation of the immune system (from about three years of age) and ending with adolescence (the period of gradual extinction of the physiological functions of the adenoids and their decrease in size). This category of causes includes all sorts of pathological processes occurring at the level of the nasopharynx (tonsillitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, etc.).
2. Allergic predisposition (lymphatic diathesis), chronic colds lead to inflammation of the adenoids, as the first immune organs on the path of infection spreading throughout the body. When inflamed, the adenoids enlarge, and over time the normal structure of the tissue changes. Adenoids grow and gradually close the lumen of the nasopharynx, with all the ensuing symptoms.

Symptoms of inflammation of the adenoids

General symptoms manifested by the fact that during a long course of the disease there is a constant lack of oxygen during breathing. As a result, the child begins to get tired early and is delayed in physical and mental development. Appears increased drowsiness, memory abilities decrease. Children, especially at an early age, are whiny and irritable.

To local symptoms include such disorders that arise as a result of the proliferation of adenoids and, as a result, disturbances in respiratory and auditory functions.

• First of all, it becomes difficult for the child to breathe through the nose. You can clearly see how he breathes with his mouth open.
• Following difficulty in nasal breathing, night snoring or snoring appears.
• When an infection occurs, symptoms of inflammation of the nose (rhinitis) and nasopharynx are detected. Runny nose, sneezing, nasal discharge - all these are signs of rhinitis.
• Enlarged tonsils close the lumen of the canal that connects the oral cavity to the ear, as a result of which the patient experiences some hearing loss.
• A nasal voice or a low timbre of the voice appears in cases where the adenoids almost completely block the exit from the nasal cavity. Normally, when speaking, sound penetrates the paranasal sinuses and resonates, that is, amplified.
• Adenoid type of facial skeleton. A long open mouth when breathing and constant nasal congestion create conditions under which a special facial expression called adenoid is formed. The child’s facial skeleton gradually elongates, the upper jaw and nasal passages narrow, the lips do not close completely, and bite deformities appear. If on time in childhood not recognize this pathology and do not take appropriate measures, the specified skeletal deformation in the form of an adenoid facial expression remains for the rest of his life.

Diagnosis of adenoids

Initially, identifying clinical symptoms of the disease, such as nasal sounds and nasal congestion, helps to suspect adenoids. In the chronic, long-term course of the disease, the symptom of the adenoid type of face is clearly visible.

More objective methods to confirm the diagnosis include:

• A digital examination in which the doctor tentatively assesses the condition of the nasopharynx and the degree of enlargement of the adenoids by inserting it into the child’s mouth index finger hands.
• Posterior rhinoscopy is a method in which the nasopharyngeal cavity is examined using a special miniature mirror. This method cannot always be successfully applied, since the speculum causes irritation of the mucous membranes and can cause a gag reflex, or simply its diameter is larger than the size at the entrance to the nasopharynx, especially in young children.
• Endoscopic method- the most informative, in terms of production accurate diagnosis. To examine the oral cavity and nasopharynx, a special device is used - an endoscope (rhinoscope), which magnifies and transmits a clear image to the monitor screen, allowing you to quickly and painlessly make the correct diagnosis. And also during endoscopic examination, concomitant pathological changes in the oral and nasal cavities are revealed.

Treatment of adenoids

Conservative method
As mentioned above, it involves the use of medications. It is used in the initial stages of development of the pathological process. To make a choice decision this method treatments include:

1. The degree of enlargement of the glands. As a rule, the adenoids should not be too large, which corresponds to 1-2 degrees of hypertrophy (enlargement).
2. There should be no signs of chronic inflammation (redness, soreness, swelling, etc.).
3. There are no functional disorders of the gland. (Normally, the adenoids contain lymphatic tissue that fights infection and prevents it from entering the body.)

1. Antihistamines, that is, those that reduce allergic reactions in the body. The mechanism of action of this group of drugs is to prevent the formation of biological active substances, under the influence of which allergic and inflammatory reactions occur in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Antihistamines reduce swelling, pain, pathological discharge from the nose (mucus), in a word, they eliminate the symptoms of a runny nose (if any).

1. Antiseptic agents are used for local use. For example, protargol and collargol contain microparticles of silver, which have an inhibitory effect on microbes.
2. To strengthen the immune system, take multivitamin preparations.
3. Warming, ultrasonic currents, and other physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out in conjunction with other general and local medications.

• In cases where it is not possible to obtain favorable results from conservative treatment for a long time.
• With significant growth of adenoids, corresponding to stages 3-4 of enlargement. Nasal breathing becomes so difficult that the child is constantly in an asphyxial state (from lack of oxygen in the body tissues), metabolic processes and the functioning of the cardiovascular system are disrupted.
• Enlarged, pathologically altered glands serve as a source of spread of various types of pathogenic bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci).

Removing adenoids is a simple operation and therefore, if there are no complications in the form of heavy bleeding or accidental entry of a piece of cut tissue into the respiratory tract, the child is allowed to go home a few hours after the operation.
The patient is recommended to rest in bed for one or two days; food taken should be pureed and not hot. Sudden movements with increased physical activity are limiting.
Contraindications for adenotomy are:

• Blood diseases in which there is a high risk of postoperative complications in the form of bleeding or a sharp decrease in immunity with the addition of a secondary infection. Such diseases include hemophilia, hemorrhagic diathesis, leukemia.
• Severe dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.
• Enlargement of the thymus gland. This gland is responsible for the immune response in the body and when it increases, the risk of excessive protective reactions increases with the development of inflammatory phenomena in the nasopharynx, swelling and blockage of the upper respiratory tract.
• Acute diseases, infectious inflammatory nature, such as tonsillitis, bronchitis or pneumonia, also serve as a contraindication for surgery. Adenotomy in these cases is usually performed 30-45 days after recovery.

Prevention of adenoid inflammation

• Firstly, they take measures to increase the body's defenses. These include hardening procedures (rubbing wet towel, walks in the fresh air, active sports, and many others).
• Eating fresh vegetables and fruits will enrich the body with beneficial vitamins and essential minerals for the normal functioning of organs and systems, and will also further strengthen the immune status. In the spring, when there is a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits, they resort to taking multivitamin preparations as a supplement to the main diet.
• If, nevertheless, a child often suffers from colds of the upper respiratory tract (sore throat, sinusitis, rhinitis), it is necessary to promptly take appropriate treatment prescribed by a doctor in order to avoid the appearance of chronic forms of the course. Long-term and chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract can be a source of pathological proliferation of adenoids.

In combination with taking vitamin preparations, for chronic sore throats, tonsillitis, rhinitis, it is recommended to give the child medications that increase the body's immune response. Herbal tea with echinacea extract has a pronounced stimulating effect aimed at strengthening the body's defenses. Among the medications taken, the following drugs are taken: Immunal, Ribomunil and others.

What are the degrees of development of adenoids?

Degrees of adenoid development

Do adenoids occur in adults and how to treat them?

Adenoids can occur for various reasons. Most often, growths of the pharyngeal tonsil occur after prolonged inflammation of the nasal mucosa.

In adults, adenoids can occur in the following cases:

• chronic rhinitis;
• chronic sinusitis;
• the presence of adenoids in childhood.

Chronic sinusitis characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the maxillary or maxillary paranasal sinuses. Sinusitis can occur against the background of various infectious diseases ( in adults most often with influenza) and if prolonged, lead to inflammation of the adenoids. The main symptom of sinusitis is a feeling of heaviness or pain in the maxillary sinuses when bending the body forward.

Presence of adenoids in childhood is also one of the reasons for the appearance of proliferation of the pharyngeal tonsil at a later age. Adenoids can appear both after their removal and against the background chronic diseases mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx. The fact is that even after removal of the adenoids in childhood, there is a possibility of their regrowth. As a rule, this situation arises due to improperly performed surgery or due to a hereditary predisposition.

The method of treatment depends on the size of the adenoids or the degree of their growth.

The following degrees of adenoid proliferation are distinguished:

• 1st degree of growth characterized by a slight increase in the size of the adenoids. In this case, the pharyngeal tonsil closes the upper part of the lumen of the nasal passages. As a rule, grade 1 adenoids cause little or no discomfort, making them difficult to detect. The most common manifestation of small adenoids is the appearance of snoring during sleep. The fact is that during a long stay in horizontal position adenoids increase in size and make it difficult to breathe through the nose. Most often in this case, ENT doctors choose conservative treatment and only in the absence of the necessary effect, the adenoids are operated on.
• 2nd degree of growth It is an enlarged pharyngeal tonsil that covers half of the nasal passages. In this case, in addition to night snoring, suffocation may occur. Due to difficulty in nasal breathing during sleep, the mouth opens slightly and the tongue may fall inward. Also, breathing through the nose becomes difficult not only at night, but also during the day. Inhaling air through the mouth, especially in winter, causes various acute respiratory diseases ( acute respiratory infections). In most cases, grade 2 adenoids are treated only with surgery.
• 3rd degree of growth It is quite rare in adults. In this case, the pharyngeal tonsil completely or almost completely closes the lumen of the nasal passages. Due to significant growth, air does not enter the auditory tube, which is necessary to equalize the atmospheric pressure in the tympanic cavity ( middle ear cavity). Long-term disruption of the ventilation of the tympanic cavity leads to hearing impairment, as well as inflammatory processes in the middle ear cavity ( otitis media). Also, people with grade 3 adenoids very often suffer from various infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. In this case, there is only one treatment - surgical removal of the enlarged pharyngeal tonsil.

Is it possible to treat adenoids with folk remedies?

The following traditional medicines can be used to treat adenoids:

• Drops from St. John's wort and celandine. You need to take 10 grams of St. John's wort herb and grind it into powder. Next, you need to add 40 grams of butter, then place in a water bath. For each teaspoon of this mixture you need to add 4 - 5 drops of juice from the celandine herb. A mixture of St. John's wort and celandine is instilled up to 4 times a day, 2 - 3 drops into each nostril. The duration of treatment is from 7 to 10 days. If necessary, the course of treatment should be repeated, but not earlier than after 14 days.
• Anise herb tincture. You should take 15 - 20 grams of dried anise herb and pour 100 milliliters of ethyl alcohol into it. Then leave for 7 - 10 days in a dark place. In this case, it is necessary to thoroughly shake the tincture once a day. After 10 days, the contents should be strained through cheesecloth. Next, add 300 milliliters to the tincture cold water and instill 12 - 15 drops into each nasal passage 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 10 - 14 days.
• Beetroot juice. Honey is added to freshly squeezed beet juice in a 2:1 ratio. This mixture must be dripped up to 5 times a day into each nasal passage, 5 to 6 drops. The duration of treatment is 14 days.
• A collection of oak bark, St. John's wort and mint leaves. You should mix 2 tablespoons of oak bark, 1 tablespoon of mint leaves, and 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort herb. For each tablespoon of this collection, add 250 milliliters of cold water, then put on fire and bring to a boil. You need to boil for no more than 5 minutes, and then leave for 60 minutes. The resulting mixture should be instilled 3 - 5 drops 3 times a day. The course of treatment should be 7 - 10 days.
• Aloe juice. Freshly squeezed juice from aloe leaves must be mixed with filtered water in a 1:1 ratio. This solution is instilled 2-3 drops every 4 hours. The duration of treatment should not exceed 10 days. If necessary, the course of treatment can be repeated after 14 days.
• Thuja oil. Thuja essential oil ( 15% solution) should be instilled 2 - 4 drops 3 times a day. The duration of treatment is 14 days. After a week's break, the course of treatment should be repeated again.

Also, some medicinal plants, interacting with drugs prescribed by a doctor, can cause various adverse reactions. Based on this, if you intend to be treated with traditional medicine, you must consult with your doctor.

In what cases does adenoid removal occur under anesthesia?

It is worth noting that for last years Some clinics have begun to increasingly use general anesthesia for adenoid surgery. This is due to the fact that under anesthesia the child does not experience enormous psycho-emotional stress, which he could experience if the operation was carried out without anesthesia. At the same time, anesthesia also has disadvantages. After anesthesia, various symptoms may occur and persist for a long time. side effects (headache, dizziness, nausea, muscle pain, allergic reactions, etc.).

It is worth noting that adenotomy ( ) can be performed without anesthesia as such. This is possible due to the fact that adenoids contain practically no pain receptors, and the operation to remove them is painless in most cases. At the same time, children of younger age groups require anesthesia due to their age ( clear fixation of the child's head is necessary).

The choice of anesthesia for adenotomy is a responsible step and should be carried out by an experienced ENT doctor. Factors such as the patient’s age, the presence of concomitant diseases of the cardiovascular or nervous system, the size of the adenoids and others are taken into account.

When should adenoids be removed?

In the following cases, removal of the adenoids is necessary:

• 2 - 3 degree of adenoid proliferation. Depending on the size, there are 3 degrees of adenoid proliferation. First degree adenoids are relatively small and cover only the upper part of the lumen of the nasal passages. In this case, there are practically no symptoms, and the main manifestation is snoring or snoring during sleep. This is due to the fact that in a horizontal position the pharyngeal tonsil increases slightly in size and disrupts normal nasal breathing. Second-degree adenoids are larger in size and can cover half or even two-thirds of the lumen of the nasal passages. In this case, breathing through the nose becomes difficult not only at night, but also during the day. With third-degree adenoids, the pharyngeal tonsil completely or almost completely closes the lumen of the nasal passages. Due to the fact that nasal breathing becomes impossible, air can only enter through the mouth ( the air is not warmed or purified). Adenoids of the 2nd and 3rd degrees can significantly worsen the quality of life and cause acute respiratory diseases, otitis media ( inflammation of the middle ear cavity), hearing loss, and also negatively affect mental capacity in childhood ( due to oxygen starvation of brain cells).
• Lack of positive results with conservative treatment of adenoids. It is customary to begin treating adenoids of the first and sometimes second degree with medication. In this case, drugs are prescribed that help reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa and have an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. If no positive dynamics from the use of medications is observed within 2 - 4 weeks, then, as a rule, they resort to surgical removal of the adenoids.
• Frequent infections respiratory system. Large adenoids can completely or almost completely close the lumen of the nasal passages, which impairs nasal breathing. In this case, air enters the respiratory tract not through the nose, but through the mouth, that is, it is not warmed and is not cleared of pathogenic microorganisms ( nasal secretions contain enzymes that have an antibacterial effect). In this case, favorable conditions are created for the occurrence of infectious diseases such as influenza, sore throat, bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Hearing impairment. Overgrowth of the pharyngeal tonsil can also adversely affect hearing. By closing the lumen of the nasal passages, the adenoids do not allow air to penetrate into the auditory tube ( eustachian tube). The Eustachian tube is needed to balance the pressure in the tympanic cavity. In the absence of normal ventilation, hearing loss occurs, and conditions are created for the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the middle ear cavity.
• Sleep apnea ( respiratory arrest). One of the manifestations of adenoid growths is a nighttime cessation of breathing for more than 10 seconds ( apnea). Apnea occurs due to retraction of the root of the tongue. When breathing through the mouth, the lower jaw drops slightly, and the tongue can cause blockage in the larynx. With sleep apnea, children wake up tired and lethargic in the morning.
• Detection of adenoids in adults. Previously, it was believed that overgrowth of adenoids could only occur in childhood, and in adults the pharyngeal tonsil is in an atrophied state. It has now been established that adults, as well as children, can have adenoids; however, due to the anatomical structure of the nasopharynx, they can only be diagnosed using endoscopic examination (examination of the nasopharynx using a special flexible tube with an optical camera at the end). If adenoids are discovered in an adult patient, then surgery is most likely necessary. The fact is that the use of drug treatment at this age very rarely gives positive results.

It is also worth mentioning the fact that surgery to remove adenoids also has contraindications.

The following contraindications to surgery to remove adenoids are:

• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• hemophilia or other blood diseases that interfere with the clotting process;
• diabetes mellitus in the stage of decompensation;
• active infectious diseases of the respiratory system ( pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.) and nasopharynx;
• benign or malignant neoplasms ( tumors);
• anomalies in the development of the hard or soft palate.

Can thuja oil be used to treat adenoids?

The following three degrees of adenoid proliferation are distinguished:

• 1st degree of growth adenoids is manifested by the fact that the pharyngeal tonsil covers only the upper third of the lumen of the nasal passages. At the same time, nasal breathing is practically undisturbed during the day, and the only symptom of small adenoids is nasal congestion at night. The fact is that when you stay in a horizontal position for a long time, the adenoids become slightly larger. This is manifested by the appearance of snoring or snoring.
• 2nd degree of growth characterized by larger sizes of the pharyngeal tonsil. Second degree adenoids cover the choanae ( openings connecting the nose and throat) and opener ( bone involved in the formation of the nasal septum) half or not even two thirds. Nasal breathing becomes difficult not only at night, but also during the day. As a result, breathing is carried out through the mouth, which increases the likelihood of acute respiratory diseases, especially in winter. In addition to this, the voice also changes. He becomes nasal due to nasal obstruction ( closed twang).
• 3rd degree of growth are adenoids of considerable size, which are completely or almost completely capable of closing the lumens of the nasal passages. With adenoids of such large size, nasal breathing is impossible. With prolonged breathing through the mouth, children develop a so-called “adenoid face” ( constantly open mouth, change in the shape of the face and upper jaw). Hearing loss also occurs due to impaired ventilation of the auditory tubes, which greatly complicates the conduction of sound vibrations from the eardrum to the labyrinth.

Therapeutic effect thuja oil

Regardless of the size of the adenoids and symptoms, before using thuja oil, you should consult with an ENT doctor.

What not to do after adenoid removal?

After surgery to remove adenoids, you should adhere to a number of rules:

• Avoid taking medications containing acetylsalicylic acid. After adenotomy, during the first days, body temperature can rise up to 37.5 - 38ºС. To reduce fever, it is necessary to use only those drugs that do not contain acetylsalicylic acid ( aspirin). The fact is that this drug, in addition to antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, also has a blood-thinning effect ( reduces the rate of platelet aggregation). Due to the fact that after surgery there is a small chance of nosebleeds ( epistaxis), taking acetylsalicylic acid or its derivatives can significantly increase the occurrence of this complication. That is why during the first 10 days after adenotomy you should completely avoid taking aspirin and other medications that can thin the blood.
• Use of vasoconstrictor medications. After surgery, it is extremely important to reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa. For this, as a rule, nasal drops with a vasoconstrictor effect are used ( galazolin, xymelin, sanorin, otrivin, etc.). Also, these nasal drops to a certain extent reduce the chance of nosebleeds. In addition, drugs that have an astringent ( reduces secretion secretion), anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic effect. This group includes drugs such as protargol, poviargol or collargol ( aqueous colloidal solution containing silver).
• Dieting. It is equally important for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery to follow a diet that excludes the intake of solid, uncut, and hot foods. Rough food can mechanically injure the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, and excessively hot food leads to dilation of the vessels of the mucous membrane, which can cause nosebleeds. Preference should be given to food with a liquid consistency, rich in all essential nutrients ( proteins, carbohydrates, fats), as well as vitamins and minerals.
• Avoid hot baths. In the first 3 to 4 days after adenotomy, it is forbidden to take a hot shower, bath, visit a sauna or bathhouse, or stay in the sun for a long time. This is due to the fact that under the influence high temperatures the vessels of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx may dilate, which increases the likelihood of bleeding.
• Limiting physical activity. Within 2 - 3 weeks after surgical removal of the adenoids, physical activity should be completely avoided. This is due to the fact that during physical activity in the postoperative period, nosebleeds may occur. It is best to refrain from physical activity for up to 4 weeks.

Is it possible to cure adenoids without resorting to surgery?

Conservative treatment is used in the following cases:

• Small size of adenoids. In total, there are three degrees of adenoid proliferation. The first degree of proliferation is characterized by the fact that the size of the adenoids is relatively small and the pharyngeal tonsil ( adenoids) closes the lumen of the nasal passages only in the upper part. Second-degree adenoids, in turn, are larger in size and are capable of covering two-thirds of the lumen of the nasal passages. If the pharyngeal tonsil completely or almost completely covers the vomer ( bone that forms part of the nasal septum) and choanae ( openings through which the pharynx communicates with the nasal passages), then in this case we are talking about third-degree adenoids. Drug treatment is carried out only in cases where the pharyngeal tonsil is relatively small in size, which corresponds to the first degree of adenoid proliferation. A conservative treatment method can also be applied to second-degree adenoid growths, but the likelihood of recovery in this case is less than 50%.
• No significant nasal breathing disturbances. The main manifestation of adenoids is impaired nasal breathing due to the closure of the lumen of the nasal passages. Also, normal nasal breathing is disrupted due to frequent nasal congestion and the secretion of copious and viscous secretions that fill the nasal passages. In this case, breathing through the nose is impossible. The air enters the respiratory system through the mouth and is not warmed, not humidified and may contain various microorganisms. Impaired nasal breathing, especially in winter, significantly increases the likelihood of infectious diseases such as pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza. Also dangerous for nasal breathing is the appearance of sleep apnea (respiratory arrest). During sleep, when breathing is through the mouth, the lower jaw drops slightly, which can lead to a recessed tongue.
• No hearing impairment. An increase in the size of the pharyngeal tonsil can lead to the closure of the lumen of the auditory tubes and disruption of its ventilation. In the future, this is manifested by hearing loss due to disruption of the conduction of sound vibrations from the eardrum to the labyrinth. Also, impaired ventilation of the Eustachian tube often causes catarrhal otitis media ( inflammation of the tympanic cavity).
• No frequent inflammation of the nasal mucosa. With the growth of first-degree adenoids, swelling and inflammation of the nasal mucosa occurs extremely rarely. Adenoids of the second and third degrees, in turn, lead to chronic rhinitis ( inflammation of the nasal mucosa), during which secretion of viscous and thick mucus, closing the lumen of the nasal passages. In this case, nasal breathing becomes impossible both at night and during the day. Against the background of chronic rhinitis, various acute respiratory diseases can occur, since air enters the lungs through the mouth.

Drug treatment of adenoids

It is worth noting that the choice of treatment depends on many parameters and only an experienced ENT doctor decides which treatment tactics are suitable in each specific case.

Is it possible to treat adenoids with laser?

Laser therapy is carried out using high-precision and modern equipment. Low-intensity laser radiation affects not only the tissues of the pharyngeal tonsil ( adenoids), but also on the surrounding vessels and nasal mucosa. Laser therapy reduces swelling of the nasal mucosa, reduces the severity of the inflammatory process and has an antibacterial effect. At the same time, to a certain extent, under the influence of laser radiation, local immunity is stimulated ( increased production of immune system cells). A standard course of laser therapy lasts, on average, from 7 to 15 sessions, which should be carried out daily. It is recommended to repeat the course of treatment 3-4 times per year.

Also, laser therapy can and should be combined with conservative ( medicinal) method of treating adenoids. In most cases, vasoconstrictor drugs are used ( to eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane), antihistamines ( for allergic processes), as well as drugs that have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and astringent effects ( reduce secretion production).

It is worth noting that this non-invasive ( without compromising tissue integrity) treatment method has a large number of advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages of laser therapy in the treatment of adenoids

Adenoids(tonsils) are defective changes in the pharyngeal tonsil. They usually occur after previous infections (measles, scarlet fever, influenza, diphtheria) or are hereditary defects. More common in children 3-10 years old.

Is your little one unable to get out of his snot and is constantly on sick leave? It is possible that the basis of health problems is the proliferation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, in other words, adenoid vegetations. We will talk about one of the most popular medical problems that most parents of kindergarten children face: whether to remove or not remove adenoids.

Symptoms of adenoids

The disease progresses slowly, unobtrusively, and one gets the impression: is this a disease at all? Most often, adenoids manifest themselves in the fact that the child often catches a cold, and parents often have to “sit on sick leave,” which eventually causes troubles at work. In most cases, it is this circumstance that forces you to consult a doctor. In general, the reasons for contacting an otolaryngologist about adenoids are worthy of talking about them separately. They are very unusual.

For example, the second most common reason for visiting a doctor is a spontaneously arising dissatisfaction with the child’s breathing from a grandmother who came from the village. Well, I don’t like it that’s all. Then there is the accidental discovery of something incomprehensible in the nasopharynx during a medical examination in kindergarten. And only in fourth place do medical complaints lead to a doctor. By the way, it is this contingent, which is only in fourth place in terms of visits to a doctor, that deserves real attention.

Adenoids are not visible to the “naked” eye - only an ENT doctor can examine the nasopharyngeal tonsil using a special mirror.

For some they cause a lot of problems. Although they were originally intended to protect. The nasopharyngeal tonsils, or adenoids, hold the first line of defense against microbes - those that seek to enter the body with air inhaled through the nose. On their way there is a kind of filter in the form of adenoids. There, special cells (lymphocytes) are produced that neutralize microorganisms.

This restless organ reacts to any inflammation. During illness, the adenoids enlarge. When the inflammatory process passes, they return to normal. If the interval between diseases is too short (a week or less), the adenoids do not have time to shrink, they are constantly inflamed. This mechanism (“they don’t keep up all the time”) leads to the fact that the adenoids grow even more. Sometimes they “swell” to such an extent that they almost completely block the nasopharynx. The consequences are obvious - difficulty in nasal breathing and hearing loss. If they are not stopped in time, adenoids can cause changes in the shape of the face, bite, blood composition, curvature of the spine, speech disorders, kidney function, and urinary incontinence.

Adenoids usually cause trouble to children. In adolescence (13–14 years), the adenoid tissue independently decreases to an insignificant size and does not complicate life in any way. But this is if from the very beginning the problem that arose was treated professionally. Usually errors begin from the moment of diagnosis.

Adenoids, or more correctly - adenoid vegetations (adenoid growths) - a widespread disease among children from 1 year to 14-15 years. It most often occurs between the ages of 3 and 7 years. Currently, there is a trend towards identifying adenoids in younger children.

Signs of adenoids

The child breathes through his mouth, which is often open, especially at night.

There is no runny nose, but nasal breathing is difficult.

A persistent runny nose that is difficult to treat.

What are the dangers of adenoids?

Hearing impairment. Normally, the difference between external atmospheric pressure and internal pressure in the middle ear cavity is regulated by the auditory (Eustachian) tube. An enlarged nasopharyngeal tonsil blocks the mouth of the auditory tube, making it difficult for air to pass freely into the middle ear. As a result, the eardrum loses its mobility, which affects the auditory sensations.

Quite often, hearing loss occurs in children due to enlarged adenoids. You should not be afraid of such violations, since they disappear completely as soon as the cause is eliminated. Hearing loss can be of varying degrees. With adenoids - moderate hearing loss.

You can check whether a child has a hearing impairment at home using so-called whispered speech. Normally, a person hears a whisper from across the entire room (six meters or more). When your child is busy playing, try calling him in a whisper from a distance of at least six meters. If the child heard you and turned around, his hearing is within normal limits. If you haven’t responded, call again - maybe the baby is too passionate about the game, and the problem is this moment not a hearing impairment at all. But if he doesn’t hear you, come a little closer - and so on until the child definitely hears you. You will know the distance from which the child hears whispered speech. If this distance is less than six meters and you are sure that the child did not respond to your voice not because he was too carried away, but precisely because of hearing loss, you should urgently seek advice from a doctor. The urgency is explained by the fact that hearing impairment occurs due to various reasons(not only due to the fault of the adenoids). One of the reasons is neuritis. If the neuritis has just begun, the matter can still be improved, but if you hesitate, the child may remain hard of hearing for life.

As a rule, enlarged adenoids and hypertrophied tonsils are observed simultaneously. Moreover, the tonsils in some children are so enlarged that they almost close together; It is clear that a child with such tonsils has problems swallowing food. But the main thing is that the child is not able to breathe freely either through his nose or his mouth.

And it often happens that breathing difficulties cause the baby to wake up at night. He wakes up afraid that he will suffocate. Such a child is more likely than other children to be nervous and out of mood. It is necessary to immediately consult with an otolaryngologist, who will decide when and where to remove the adenoids and trim the tonsils.

Excessively enlarged adenoids and tonsils can also cause bedwetting in a child. One or two nighttime “troubles” that have happened to a child do not mean bedwetting. But if this phenomenon occurs constantly, you should consult a doctor.

Frequent colds. Constant colds are associated with the fact that the child cannot breathe freely through his nose. Normally, the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses produces mucus, which “cleanses” the nasal cavity of bacteria, viruses and other pathogenic factors. If a child has an obstacle to the flow of air in the form of adenoids, the outflow of mucus is hampered, and favorable conditions are created for the development of infection and the occurrence of inflammatory diseases.

Adenoiditis is a chronic inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsils. Adenoids, making nasal breathing difficult, not only contribute to the occurrence of inflammatory diseases, but also themselves are a good environment for the attack of bacteria and viruses. Therefore, the tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, as a rule, is in a state of chronic inflammation. Microbes and viruses receive a “permanent residence” in it. A so-called focus of chronic infection arises, from which microorganisms can spread throughout the body.

Decreased performance at school. It has been proven that when nasal breathing is difficult, the human body receives up to 12-18% less oxygen. Therefore, a child suffering from difficulty in nasal breathing due to adenoids experiences a constant lack of oxygen, and, above all, the brain suffers.

Speech disorders. If a child has adenoids, the growth of the bones of the facial skeleton is disrupted. This in turn can adversely affect speech formation. The child cannot pronounce individual letters and constantly speaks through his nose (nasal). Parents often do not notice these changes, as they “get used” to the child’s pronunciation.

Frequent otitis media. Adenoid growths disrupt normal work middle ear, as they block the mouth of the auditory tube. This creates favorable conditions for the penetration and development of infection in the middle ear.

Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract - pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis. When adenoid tissue grows, chronic inflammation develops in it. This leads to the constant production of mucus or pus, which drains into the underlying parts of the respiratory system. Passing through the mucous membrane, they cause inflammatory processes - pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx), laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx), tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea) and bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi).

These are only the most noticeable and frequent disorders that occur in a child’s body in the presence of adenoid vegetations. Actually the spectrum pathological changes, which cause adenoids, are much wider. This should include changes in blood composition, developmental disorders of the nervous system, renal dysfunction, etc.

As a rule, one of these symptoms is enough to establish a diagnosis and carry out adequate treatment measures.

Diagnosis of adenoids

It is necessary to treat adenoids, since prolonged shallow and frequent mouth breathing causes abnormal development chest and leads to anemia. In addition, due to constant mouth breathing in children, the growth of facial bones and teeth is disrupted and a special adenoid type of face is formed: the mouth is half-open, the lower jaw becomes elongated and drooping, and the upper incisors protrude significantly forward.

If you find one of the above signs in your child, immediately contact an ENT doctor. If grade I adenoids are detected without significant breathing problems, conservative treatment of adenoids is carried out - instillation of a 2% protargol solution into the nose, taking vitamins C and D, and calcium supplements.

The operation - adenotomy - is not necessary for all children, and must be carried out according to strict indications. As a rule, surgical intervention is recommended in cases of significant proliferation of lymphoid tissue (grade II-III adenoids) or in the event of the development of serious complications - hearing impairment, nasal breathing disorders, speech disorders, frequent colds, etc.

False diagnosis

The reason for a misdiagnosis may be: overconfidence ENT doctor (A child entered the office, his mouth was open: “Ah, everything is clear, these are adenoids. Surgery!”), and a lack of knowledge. The adenoids are not always to blame for the fact that a child does not breathe through his nose. The cause may be allergies and vasomotor rhinitis, curvature of the nasal septum, even a tumor. Certainly, experienced doctor can determine the degree of disease by pronunciation, timbre of voice, nasality of speech. But you can’t rely on this.

A reliable picture of the disease can only be obtained after examining the child. The oldest diagnostic method, which, however, is most often used in children's clinics, is a digital examination. They reach into the nasopharynx with their fingers and feel the tonsil. The procedure is very painful and subjective. One has a finger like this, and the other has one like this. One climbed in: “Yes, adenoids.” And the other did not feel anything: “Well, there are no adenoids there.” The child sits all in tears, and then he will not open his mouth to another doctor - it hurts. The method of posterior rhinoscopy is also unpleasant - “pushing” a mirror deep into the oral cavity (children feel the urge to vomit). The diagnosis is again made mostly on the basis of an x-ray of the nasopharynx, which allows one to determine only the degree of enlargement of the adenoids and does not give an idea of ​​the nature of their inflammation and the relationship with neighboring important structures in the nasopharynx, which in no case should be damaged during surgery. This could have been done 30–40 years ago. Modern methods are painless and make it possible to accurately determine the size of the adenoids and whether they require surgical treatment. It could be CT scan or endoscopy. A tube (endoscope) connected to a video camera is inserted into the nasal cavity. As the tube moves deeper, all the “secret” areas of the nose and nasopharynx are displayed on the monitor.

The adenoids themselves can be misleading. A common situation. When does a mother and child go to the doctor? Usually a week after illness: “Doctor, we are not getting out of sick leave!” Every month we have either conjunctivitis, or otitis media, or tonsillitis, or sinusitis.” At the clinic they take a picture: the adenoids are enlarged. (Which is natural during the inflammatory process!) They write: surgery. And 2-3 weeks after the disease, if the child does not catch a new infection, the adenoids return to normal. Therefore, if the clinic told you that the child has adenoids and they must be removed, consider consulting another doctor. The diagnosis may not be confirmed.

Another common mistake: if you remove the adenoids, the child will no longer get sick. It is not true. Indeed, an inflamed tonsil is a serious source of infection. Therefore, neighboring organs and tissues are also in danger - microbes can easily move there. But you can’t cut off an infection with a knife. It will still “come out” in another place: in the paranasal sinuses, in the ear, in the nose. The infection can be detected, identified, tests done, sensitivity to drugs determined, and only then treatment can be prescribed with a greater probability that the disease will be defeated. Adenoids are removed not because the child is sick. And only when they make nasal breathing difficult, they lead to complications in the form of sinusitis, sinusitis, and otitis.

Children with severe allergic diseases, especially with bronchial asthma, surgery is often contraindicated. Removal of the nasopharyngeal tonsil can lead to worsening of the condition and exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, they are treated conservatively.

To remove or not to remove adenoids

Special medical literature describes that the presence of adenoids in a child is fraught with serious complications. Long-term difficulty in natural breathing through the nose can lead to delayed psychomotor development and improper formation of the facial skeleton. Persistent disruption of nasal breathing contributes to deterioration of ventilation of the paranasal sinuses with the possible development of sinusitis. Hearing may be impaired. The child often complains of pain in the ear, and the risk of developing a chronic inflammatory process and persistent hearing loss is increased. To top it all off frequent colds, which seem endless to parents, incline the doctor to radical measures. The traditional method of treating children with adenoids is extremely simple - their removal, or adenotomy. More specifically, we are talking about partial removal excessively enlarged pharyngeal tonsil. It is this enlarged tonsil, which is located in the nasopharynx at the exit from the nasal cavity, that is considered the cause of the child’s problems.

Adenotomy, one can say without exaggeration, is the most common today surgery in pediatric otorhinolaryngological practice. However, few people know that it was proposed back in the days of Emperor Nicholas I and has remained virtually unchanged to this day. But the effectiveness of treating adenoids using this method has even worsened somewhat due to the too widespread prevalence of various allergies in modern children. So has nothing new appeared in medical science since that distant time? Appeared. A lot has changed. But, unfortunately, the approach to treatment has remained purely mechanistic - the enlargement of the organ, like one and a half hundred years ago, prompts doctors to remove it.

Try asking your doctor why this unfortunate tonsil has become enlarged, which interferes so much with nasal breathing, causes so many problems and requires surgical treatment and with virtually no anesthesia. I wonder what they will answer. Firstly, an intelligent answer to this question requires a lot of time, which the doctor does not have, secondly, and this is very sad, information about the latest scientific developments due to the enormous cost, it has become practically inaccessible. It so happened, and perhaps this is partly correct, that doctors and their patients are located, as they say, “on opposite sides of the counter.” There is information for doctors, there is information for patients, in the end it turns out that doctors have their own truth, and patients have theirs.

Treatment of adenoids

When the question arises about the need for adenotomy, it must be emphasized that the most acceptable approach here is the “step by step” principle. Adenotomy is not an urgent operation; it can always be postponed for some time in order to use this delay to apply more gentle therapeutic techniques. For adenotomy, it is necessary, as they say, to “mature” both the child, the parents, and the doctor. We can talk about the need for surgical treatment only when all non-surgical measures have been used, but there is no effect. In any case, it is just as impossible to correct violations of the subtlest mechanisms of immune regulation using a knife as it is to eliminate a software glitch in a computer using a saw and an ax. You can only try to prevent complications with a knife, so before you take it up, you need to make sure whether there is a tendency for them to develop.

It should be noted that adenotomy is very dangerous to perform at an early age. All scientific journals write that before the age of five any surgical interventions on the tonsils are generally undesirable. It must be borne in mind that with age, the tonsils themselves decrease in volume. There is a certain time period in a person’s life when the body actively gets acquainted with the surrounding microflora, and the tonsils work to their fullest and may increase slightly.

When treating such patients, the most ancient medical principle, establishing a hierarchy of medicinal effects: word, plant, knife. In other words, of paramount importance is a comfortable psychological atmosphere surrounding the child, reasonable passage through various colds without losses to the immune system, non-surgical treatment methods, and only at the very last stage adenotomy. This principle should be used for all diseases without exception, however, modern medicine, armed to the teeth with powerful means of influence, mainly thinks about how to shorten the duration of treatment, while creating more and more new iatrogenic (the cause of which is the treatment process itself) diseases.

Among various non-drug methods useful for correcting the child’s immunodeficiency, which results in adenoids, practice shows the effectiveness of spa therapy, herbal medicine and homeopathic medicine. I would like to emphasize that these methods are effective only if the basic principles of getting through colds, which we discussed above, are observed. Moreover, treatment carried out exclusively by professionals must be long-term with the child being monitored for at least six months. Even the most expensive herbal preparations and homeopathic medicines in bright packaging are not suitable here, because only an individual approach is required. The only thing that is the same for everyone is surgery.

By the way, about the operation, if it happens that you cannot refuse it. The protective mechanisms of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract after surgical treatment are restored no earlier than after three to four months. So you still can’t do without conservative (non-surgical) treatment.

It happens that adenoids recur after surgery, that is, they grow again. Perhaps in some cases this is a consequence of some errors in surgical technique, but in the vast majority of such situations surgical technique not guilty. Recurrence of adenoids is the surest sign that they should not have been removed, but that the existing severe immunodeficiency had to be eliminated. The point of view of many otorhinolaryngologists on this matter is interesting. They prove that recurrent adenoids should be treated conservatively, that is, without surgery. Then it is not clear why to operate on ordinary non-recurrent adenoids, which are easier to treat than recurrent ones. This is just one of the existing contradictions in medicine, from many of which one must understand the following: health is a precious gift that is given to a person once and then over time is only wasted and diminished. This should always be remembered when deciding on certain medical interventions in the child’s body.

Treatment of adenoid growths

How to treat a child if surgery is not yet required?

Try rinsing your nose and nasopharynx - only a few rinses are sometimes enough to get your nasopharynx in order. Of course, a lot here depends on your skill and perseverance, and on the child - how he will tolerate this procedure. But try to come to an agreement with your child and explain why the rinsing is being done. Some mothers rinse the noses of their children under one year old (by the way, rinsing is useful both for a runny nose and for preventing colds). Children get used to this procedure and sometimes ask to rinse their nose if they have difficulty breathing through their nose.

Rinsing the nose and nasopharynx. It is most convenient to do the procedure in the bathroom. Using a syringe (rubber bottle), you take warm water or a herbal decoction and inject it into the child’s one nostril. The child should stand bending over the bathtub or sink, with his mouth open (so that the child does not choke when the rinsing water passes through the nose, nasopharynx and when it drains over the tongue). First, press the syringe lightly so that the water (or solution) does not flow in too strong a stream. When the child gets a little used to the procedure and is not afraid, you can increase the pressure. Washing with an elastic jet is much more effective. The child should not raise his head during rinsing, and then the rinsing water will flow safely down the tongue. Then rinse your nose through the other nostril. Of course, at first the child will not like this procedure, but you will notice how the nose will clear, how clots of mucus will come out of it, and how easy it will be for the baby to breathe.

There are no special recommendations regarding the amount of water used (solution, infusion, decoction). You can use three or four cans on each side, or you can do more. You will see for yourself when the child’s nose clears. Practice shows that 100-200 ml for one wash is enough.

For rinsing the nose, preference should be given to herbal collections:

1. St. John's wort grass, heather grass, coltsfoot leaves, horsetail grass, calendula flowers - equally. Pour 25 ml of boiling water over 15 g of the collection, boil for 10 minutes, leave in a warm place for 2 hours. Strain. Place 15-20 drops into the nose every 3-4 hours or use to rinse the nose.

2. Fireweed leaves, chamomile flowers, carrot seeds, plantain leaves, horsetail grass, snakeweed rhizome - equally (for preparation and use, see above).

3. White rose petals, yarrow grass, flax seeds, licorice rhizome, wild strawberry leaves, birch leaves - equally (for preparation and use, see above).

4. Seed grass, clover flowers, duckweed grass, calamus rhizome, St. John's wort herb, wormwood herb, usually wormwood - equally (for preparation and use, see above).

In the absence of allergies, infusions can be taken medicinal plants inside:

1. Marshmallow root, watch leaves, St. John's wort herb, rose hips, coltsfoot leaves, fireweed herb - equally. Pour 6 g of collection with 250 ml of boiling water: leave in a thermos for 4 hours. Take 1/4 cup 4-5 times a day warm.

2. Birch leaves, elecampane rhizome, blackberry leaves, calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, yarrow leaves, string grass - equally divided. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over 6 g of the collection and leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Take 1/4 cup 4-5 times a day warm.

3. Thyme grass, meadowsweet grass, oat straw, rose hips, viburnum flowers, clover flowers, raspberry leaves - equally. Pour 6 g of the collection into 250 ml of boiling water and leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Take 1/4 cup 4-5 times a day warm.

If your doctor has prescribed your child any medicinal drops or ointment, they work most effectively after rinsing the nose - since the nasal mucosa is clean and the medicine acts on it directly. And indeed, there will be no benefit from dropping even the best medicine into a nose full of discharge; the medicine will either flow out of the nose or the child will swallow it, and there will be no effect. Always clean your nose thoroughly before using medicinal drops and ointments: either by rinsing, or, if the child knows how, by blowing your nose (but the former is better, of course).

Some very capricious children (especially small ones) refuse to wash their nose. And no admonitions, no explanations have any effect on them. For such children, you can try rinsing your nose using a different method, although not as effective.

The child should be placed on his back and the same chamomile decoction should be instilled into the nose using a pipette. The broth enters the nasopharynx through the nose, and the child then swallows it. After such rinsing, you can try to clear your nose by suction using a rubber balloon.

To rinse your nose and nasopharynx, you can use plain warm (body temperature) tap water. In this case, crusts, dust, mucus with the microbes contained in them are removed purely mechanically from the nose, nasopharynx, and from the surface of the adenoids.

You can use sea water for rinsing (dry sea salt is sold in pharmacies; stir 1.5-2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water, filter). It is good because, like any saline solution, it quickly relieves swelling; In addition, sea water contains iodine compounds that kill infection. If your pharmacy does not have dry sea ​​salt and if you live far from the sea, you can prepare approximate sea ​​water solution (stir in a glass of warm water a teaspoon of table salt, a teaspoon baking soda and add 1-2 drops of iodine). Can be used for rinsing and decoctions of herbs - for example, chamomile. You can alternate: chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, calendula, eucalyptus leaf. In addition to the fact that you remove the infection from the nose and nasopharynx mechanically, the following herbal remedies They also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Some doctors prescribe a 2% solution of protargol to be instilled into the nose for children with enlarged adenoids. Practice shows that this does not result in a significant improvement in the child’s condition (although, again, everything is individual), however, it has been noticed that protargol somewhat dries out and slightly shrinks the adenoid tissue. Of course, the best effect occurs when you instill protargol into a previously washed nose - the solution acts directly on the adenoids, and does not slide into the oropharynx along the mucous discharge.

To instill the medicine, the child must be placed on his back and even tilt his head back (this is easier when the child lies on the edge of the couch). In this position, instill 6-7 drops of protargol into the nose, and let the child lie down without changing position for several minutes - then you can be sure that the protargol solution is “located” exactly on the adenoids.

This procedure should be repeated (without skipping) twice a day: morning and evening (before bed) for fourteen days. Then a month - a break. And the course is repeated.

It is very important to know that protargol is an unstable silver compound that quickly loses activity and is destroyed on the fifth or sixth day. Therefore, you need to use only freshly prepared protargol solution.

It also happens that, according to indications, the doctor will prescribe an adenotomy - an operation to cut off the adenoids. The technique of this operation is more than a hundred years old. It is done both on an outpatient basis and in a hospital setting, but due to the fact that after the operation there is still a possibility of bleeding from the wound surface for some time, it is preferable to remove the adenoids in a hospital, where the person being operated on is under the supervision of experienced doctors for two or three days.

The operation is performed under local anesthesia a special instrument called an adenotom. The adenotom is a steel loop on a long thin handle, one edge of the loop is sharp. After the operation, bed rest is observed for several days, and body temperature is monitored. Only liquid and semi-liquid foods are allowed to be eaten; nothing irritating - spicy, cold, hot; Only warm dishes. For several days after adenotomy, you may complain of a sore throat, but the pain gradually decreases and soon disappears altogether.

However, there are also various contraindications for adenotomy. These include – developmental anomalies of the soft and hard palate, clefts of the hard palate, child age (up to 2 years), blood diseases, suspicion of cancer, acute infectious diseases, acute inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, bacilli carriage, a period of up to 1 month after preventive vaccinations.

Along with the obvious advantages (the ability to be performed on an outpatient basis, the short duration and relative technical simplicity of the operation), traditional adenotomy has a number of significant disadvantages. One of them is the lack of visual control during surgery. Given the wide variety of anatomical structures of the nasopharynx, performing a “blind” intervention does not allow the surgeon to sufficiently completely remove the adenoid tissue.

Improving the quality and efficiency of the operation is facilitated by the development and implementation in pediatric otorhinolaryngology modern techniques, such as aspiration adenotomy, endoscopic adenotomy, adenotomy using shaver technologies under general anesthesia.

Aspiration adenotomy is performed with a special adenotomy designed and introduced into otorhinolaryngological practice by B.I. Kerchev. Aspiration adenoid is a hollow tube with a shoe-shaped receiver for the adenoids widened at the end. The other end of the adenotom is connected to the suction. With aspiration adenotomy, the possibility of aspiration (inhalation) of pieces of lymphoid tissue and blood into the lower respiratory tract, as well as damage to nearby anatomical structures in the nasopharynx, is excluded.

Endoscopic adenotomy. The intervention to remove adenoids is performed under general anesthesia (anesthesia) with artificial ventilation. A rigid endoscope with 70-degree optics is inserted into the oral part of the pharynx to the level of the curtain of the soft palate. The nasopharynx and posterior parts of the nose are examined. The size of adenoid vegetations, their localization, and the severity of inflammatory phenomena are assessed. Then, an adenote or aspiration adenote is injected through the oral cavity into the nasopharynx. Under visual control, the surgeon removes lymphadenoid tissue. After the bleeding has stopped, the surgical field is re-examined.

The use of a microdebrider (shaver) significantly improves the quality of adenotomy. The microdebrider consists of an electromechanical console and a handle with a working tip and a pedal connected to it, with the help of which the surgeon can move and stop the rotation of the cutter, as well as change the direction and modes of its rotation. The microdebrider tip consists of a hollow, stationary part and a blade rotating inside it. A suction hose is connected to one of the channels of the handle, and due to negative pressure, the tissue to be removed is sucked to the hole at the end of the working part, crushed by a rotating blade and aspirated into the suction reservoir. To remove adenoid tissue, the working tip of the shaver is inserted through one half of the nose to the nasopharynx. Under the control of an endoscope inserted through the opposite half of the nose or through the oral cavity, the adenoid tonsil is removed.

In the postoperative period, the child must follow a home regime for 24 hours; in the next 10 days, physical activity should be limited (outdoor games, physical education), overheating should be avoided, food should be gentle (warm, non-irritating food). If the postoperative period is uncomplicated, the child can attend kindergarten or school on the 5th day after removal of the adenoids.

After surgery, many children continue to breathe through their mouth, although the obstruction to normal breathing has been removed. These patients require special treatment breathing exercises, helping to strengthen the respiratory muscles, restore the correct mechanism external respiration and eliminating the habit of breathing through the mouth. Breathing exercises are carried out under the supervision of a specialist in physical therapy or at home after appropriate consultation.

Prevention of adenoiditis and adenoid vegetations.

The surest way to prevent infection is to avoid infection. And its main source among children is kindergarten. The mechanism is simple. A child comes to kindergarten for the first time. Until now, I have never been sick and communicated with two children in the nearest sandbox. And in the garden there is a large group of peers: we lick toys and pencils, spoons, plates, linen - everything is shared. And there will always be one or two children whose snot hangs to their waists, whose parents “put them in kindergarten” not because the child needs to develop, contact with children, but because they need to go to work. Less than two weeks had passed before the newcomer fell ill, began to sniffle, cough, and began to feel feverish (up to 39). The doctor from the clinic looked at my throat, wrote “ARVI (ARI)”, and prescribed an antibiotic that he liked. The fact that it will act specifically on this infection is what my grandmother said in two - microbes are now resistant. And in a situation where a child has an acute respiratory infection, it is not at all necessary to immediately “sculpt” him with an antibiotic. It is quite possible that his immune system, when encountering the infection for the first time, will cope with it on its own. However, the child is given an antibiotic. The mother spent seven days with the child - and went to the doctor: “No temperature? That means you’re healthy!” Mom goes to work, child goes to kindergarten. But children don’t recover in a week! This requires at least 10–14 days. And the child returned to the team, brought with him an untreated infection and gave it to everyone he could. And he picked up a new one. Against the background of a weakened immune system due to antibiotics and illness, this happens very often. Chronic inflammation occurs.

So - main prevention– adequate and leisurely treatment of all childhood colds.

Traditional medicine recipes for the treatment of adenoids:

Pour 15 g of dry crushed anise herb into 100 ml of alcohol and leave in a dark place for 10 days, shaking the contents periodically, then strain. For nasal polyps, dilute the prepared tincture with cold boiled water in a ratio of 1:3 and instill 10–15 drops 3 times a day until the adenoids completely disappear.

For polyps in the nasopharynx, dissolve 1 g of mumiyo in 5 tablespoons of boiled water. The mixture should be instilled into the nose several times a day. At the same time as this treatment, dissolve 0.2 g of mumiyo in 1 glass of water and drink in small sips throughout the day.

Squeeze the juice from the beets and mix it with honey (2 parts beet juice 1 part honey). Instill this mixture 5-6 drops into each nostril 4-5 times a day for a runny nose in a child caused by adenoids in the nasopharynx.

Regular rinsing of the nose and throat with salt water slows down the development of adenoids.

Every 3-5 minutes, instill 1 drop of celandine juice into each nostril 1-2 times a day. Just 3-5 drops. The course of treatment is 1–2 weeks.

Mix St. John's wort, powdered herb, and unsalted butter in a 1:4 ratio in a boiling water bath. Add 5 drops of Greater Celandine herb juice to each teaspoon of the mixture and mix thoroughly. Place 2 drops of the mixture in each nostril 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is 7–10 days. If necessary, repeat treatment after 2 weeks.

Home remedies for treating adenoids

Place 6-8 drops of thuja oil into each nostril at night. The course of treatment for adenoids is 2 weeks. After a week's break, repeat the course.

Stir 0.25 teaspoon in 1 glass of boiled water baking soda and 15-20 drops of 10% alcohol solution propolis. Rinse your nose with the solution 3-4 times a day, pouring 0.5 cups of freshly prepared solution for adenoids into each nostril.

Herbs and mixtures for the treatment of adenoids

Pour 1 tablespoon of bodra ivy grass with 1 glass of water, boil for 10 minutes over low heat. Inhale the vapor of the herb for 5 minutes 3-4 times a day for adenoids.

Pour 1 tablespoon of chopped walnut pericarp into 1 glass of water, bring to a boil and leave. Place 6-8 drops into the nose 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment for adenoids is 20 days.

Pour 2 tablespoons of horsetail with 1 glass of water, boil for 7-8 minutes, leave for 2 hours. Rinse the nasopharynx 1-2 times a day for 7 days for adenoids.

Take 1 part each of oregano herb and coltsfoot herb, 2 parts of succession herb. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 6-8 hours in a thermos, strain, add 1 drop of fir oil, rinse your nose and nasopharynx 1-2 times a day. The course of treatment for adenoids is 4 days. Health portal www.site

Take 10 parts of black currant leaves, crushed rose hips, chamomile flowers, 5 parts of calendula flowers, 2 parts of viburnum flowers. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 6-8 hours in a thermos, strain, add 1 drop of fir oil and rinse your nose 1-2 times a day. The course of treatment for adenoids is 3 days.

Take 2 parts of oak bark and 1 part of St. John's wort herb and mint leaf. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into 1 glass of cold water, bring to a boil, boil for 3-5 minutes, leave for 1 hour, strain, rinse the nasopharynx 1-2 times a day for adenoids.

To prevent adenoids and polyps, make an ointment from the herb St. John's wort (mix 1 part of the herb powder with 4 parts of unsalted butter) and add 5 drops of celandine juice to 1 teaspoon, pour into a small bottle and shake until an emulsion is obtained. Instill 3-4 times a day, 2 drops into each nostril for adenoids.

Vanga's recipes for adenoids

Grind the dried hellebore roots into powder. Prepare a dough from flour and water and stretch it into a long ribbon. The width of this tape should be such that it can be wrapped around the patient’s throat. Then it is good to sprinkle the dough ribbon with crushed powder from the medicinal herb and wrap it around the patient’s neck so that the tonsils are certainly covered. Apply a bandage or cotton cloth on top. For children, the duration of this compress should not exceed half an hour, and adults can leave it overnight. Repeat if necessary. Moreover, for small children the duration of the compress is from half an hour to an hour, for older children - 2 - 3 hours, and adults can leave the compress on all night.

5 tablespoons of water, 1 g mummy. Place in the nose 3-4 times a day.

Make a compress from soft dough, sprinkle it with chopped stalks of ragwort grass, and cover your neck with it. Repeat the procedure 1 – 2 times for half an hour.

If a child often suffers from colds, snores in his sleep or breathes through his mouth, you need to take him to an appointment with an ENT specialist, since adenoids may be the cause. It will not be possible to see the problem simply by looking into the baby’s throat; only a doctor can conduct an examination, using special diagnostic tools, and he will prescribe the necessary treatment, taking into account the degree of neglect of the disease.

Adenoid vegetations in children are a common disease. Most often, problems with adenoids occur in children aged 3 to 7 years. But in recent years, cases of the disease occurring in children under 3 years of age have become increasingly common.

What are adenoids?

In the pharyngeal ring of any child there are 6 tonsils, 4 of which are paired and 2 are single? nasopharyngeal and lingual. Adenoids are the overgrown lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, which is located on the back wall of the pharynx. The lymphoid tissue of the pharyngeal ring is part of the immune system and its purpose is to neutralize harmful microorganisms.

During the period of illness, regardless of its cause, lymphoid tissue begins to increase, thus, the body creates more space for the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms. After recovery, the tonsils gradually return to normal, but if the disease is prolonged or often recurs, the enlarged lymphoid tissue may become inflamed.

The role of adenoids in a baby’s health is significant. Therefore, specialists do not seek to remove enlarged tonsils, but try to solve the problem using conservative methods. It is important to preserve and strengthen children's health, and, as experts note, in most cases, after removal of the adenoids at an early age (about 3–5 years), children begin to get sick much more often. For this reason, surgery on inflamed adenoids is performed only as a last resort, when enlarged adenoids pose a threat to the baby’s health.

Adenoid development

In a healthy child with a strong immune system, adenoid hypertrophy occurs only during periods of colds, flu or infectious diseases affecting the nasopharynx area. With normal child development, the tonsils of the pharyngeal ring begin to shrink at about 8 years of age. By the age of 13–14, when the nasopharynx is rebuilt and acquires an adult structure, the adenoids become practically invisible and do not cause problems in the future.

For children with weak immunity, adenoid hypertrophy can cause a lot of trouble and lead to serious diseases, becoming dangerous to health, causing many complications. It is important to monitor the condition of the adenoids during any disease that leads to their enlargement.

Often various factors lead to the development of adenoids. autoimmune diseases, some types of allergies, and chronic pathologies areas of the nasopharynx and oropharynx, accompanied by severe swelling of the mucous membranes and inflammation.

Diagnostics

Modern medicine has sufficient quantity methods for diagnosing a disease such as adenoids in the nose in children of any age.

Diagnosis of adenoids in children occurs as follows:

1. Collecting an anamnesis and studying existing symptoms, namely: the presence of fever, snoring during sleep, nasal breathing disturbances, nasal sounds, sore throat, hearing loss, purulent discharge, changes in the structure of the face according to the adenoid type (swelling of the facial tissues, drooping of the lower jaw, constantly open mouth).
2. Carrying out anterior and posterior rhinoscopy using a special mirror.
3. Visual examination of the oral cavity.
4. Endoscopic examination of the oropharynx using special probes.
5. X-ray of the nasopharynx area. The procedure allows not only to study the condition of the adenoids, determine the degree of their development, but also to exclude the presence of sinusitis, which has similar symptoms.
6. A smear from the surface of enlarged adenoids. Its collection is carried out in case of protracted course of the disease, frequent relapses of adenoiditis, as well as in cases where the cause of the disease is an allergy. The analysis makes it possible to determine not only the composition of the microflora, but also its sensitivity to certain drugs.

Adenoid grades

Doctors distinguish three main degrees of adenoids in children:

Treatment

In official medicine there is no concept of the fourth degree of adenoids. The third degree of adenoids is characterized by complete filling of the nasopharynx area with overgrown lymphoid tissue and there is nowhere for it to grow further; the enlarged adenoids cannot go beyond this space.

Methods of conservative treatment of adenoids are different, but specific therapy can only be prescribed by a doctor after a full examination.

The doctor may prescribe the following medications and procedures:

• nasal drops in the nose for adenoids, sprays;
• solutions for rinsing the nose and oropharynx, the purpose of which is to provide additional hydration of the mucous membranes, eliminate existing tissue swelling and relieve inflammation of the adenoids;
• carrying out inhalations using medicinal solutions and essential oils;
• physiotherapy for adenoids in children;
• special breathing exercises that will help your baby learn to breathe easier and provide the body with a full volume of oxygen;
• lubrication of the nasal cavity special ointments and solutions, for example, sea ​​buckthorn oil or propolis tincture, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Recently, doctors are increasingly prescribing Avamis nasal spray for adenoids in children. Thanks to its special composition, the drug is able to quickly eliminate inflammation of the adenoids and swelling of the nasal mucosa, but is a hormonal agent.

Doctors assure that the use of Avamis in the treatment of adenoids in children is completely safe, but they do not always explain the importance of correct use of the drug. Misuse, as well as failure to comply with the dosage of Avamis, can lead to many unpleasant and dangerous consequences.

Another popular drug is Derinat for adenoids in children. It is absolutely safe and approved for use even by newborns.

Many are sure that adenoids in a child can be cured using gentle and safe methods homeopathy, but this is not always the case. In most cases, homeopathic drugs can provide significant assistance only if the child has first-degree adenoids. You should not get carried away with homeopathy methods without the prescription and supervision of doctors, since self-treatment can harm the implementation of drug therapy.

Traditional medicine recommends treating inflammation of the adenoids with: thuja oil, natural honey, medicinal herbs, propolis, lemon and other citrus oils, aloe-based preparations, rosehip and sea buckthorn oils. Natural drops for adenoids should be used with caution, as an allergic reaction may occur.

Periodic gargling and rinsing the nasal cavity with saline and soda solutions and herbal decoctions give excellent results in alleviating the condition. Essential oils can be lubricated on inflamed tonsils and inhaled using them.

You can use folk remedies only after consulting a doctor, since many of them can cause allergies.

IN exceptional cases When conservative treatment of adenoids does not produce the necessary results and the disease continues to progress, surgery is performed.

It is worth remembering that the treatment regimen for adenoids should be selected exclusively by a doctor.

Consequences of late treatment

Lack of timely treatment of adenoids is fraught with the appearance of many complications, which include:

1. Progression of the disease, increase in its degree.
2. Deterioration or loss of hearing.
3. Frequent colds.
4. Transition of the disease into the chronic form of adenoiditis.
5. Memory impairment due to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain.
6. Speech disturbances, changes in voice and timbre.
7. Frequent occurrence of otitis media.
8. Periodic occurrence of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, which can quickly become chronic.
9. The appearance of adenoid cough.

Prevention

Inflammation of the adenoids is much easier to prevent than to treat. Preventive measures include timely treatment of colds and infectious diseases, hardening procedures, daily walks in the fresh air, and playing sports. It is important to strengthen the baby’s immunity, provide him with complete and proper nutrition, containing all the necessary vitamins and microelements.

And of course, you should avoid contact with people who have acute respiratory infections, ARVI, colds or flu, as well as any other infectious or viral diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract.

When the adenoids become inflamed, mucopurulent discharge appears, body temperature may rise, and the respiratory process becomes difficult. Acute inflammation leads to pain in the ear area, decreased hearing function, purulent discharge from the auricle. At chronic form inflammation slows down the physical and mental development of the child, increases fatigue, decreases appetite, and disturbs sleep.

Effective means of relieving inflammation

After use vasoconstrictor It is recommended to use antiseptic or antibacterial agents. For example, you can instill “Protargol”, “Bioparox” depending on the age and condition of the child’s body. Against the background of the main treatment, it is advisable to take antihistamines and vitamin complexes.

There are folk remedies for restoring respiratory function:
- during the day, drink a mixture of 2 glasses of warm milk, eggs, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. butter;
- instill Kalanchoe, beet or aloe juice three times a day;
- drink a mixture of carrot juice and spinach juice on an empty stomach;
- rinse your nose with calendula infusion, sea salt solution, chamomile, sage or oak bark decoction to relieve inflammation and destroy harmful bacteria.

To more quickly relieve inflammation of the adenoids, it is necessary to organize balanced diet. Under no circumstances should you allow the consumption of allergenic foods, these include chocolate, citrus fruits, strawberries, seafood, sweets, and nuts. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and berries should prevail in the daily diet.