Treatment of adenoids in children without surgery
The content of the article:
- Conservative treatment vs surgery
- How to cure adenoids without surgery in children
- How to reduce adenoids in a child without surgery using alternative methods
- Adenoids and adenoiditis
- Growth rates and diagnosis
- Effects
- Video
Treatment of adenoids in children without surgery is possible with timely access to an ENT doctor. In terms of frequency of occurrence, the pathology occupies a leading position in the general structure of otorhinolaryngological diseases in pediatrics.
Adenoids in children are one of the most common ENT diseases
A prolonged inflammatory process that occurs in the nasopharynx in a child is often accompanied by hypertrophy of the adenoid tissue of the pharyngeal tonsil - this is how adenoid growths (vegetation) are formed. It is a chronic disease that, although it does not pose an immediate threat to life, can significantly impair health and even affect the development of a child.
Treatment of adenoids is carried out by an otorhinolaryngologist (ENT doctor).
Conservative treatment vs surgery
Treatment of adenoids can be carried out by conservative (non-surgical) methods and by surgery. Several decades ago it was believed that adenoids should be removed in any case, and preferably as early as possible. Currently, the priority is the treatment of adenoids without surgery. Thus, the authoritative Ukrainian pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky believes that surgical removal of adenoids can lead to a decrease in the reactivity of the body, since the nasopharyngeal tonsil is an organ of the immune system that performs a protective function - it prevents the spread of infection in the upper respiratory tract. Surgical treatment of adenoids does not eliminate the cause of the disease and does not exclude relapse, and in addition, such an operation in a child has a high risk of developing a number of adverse consequences (paralysis of the soft palate,its fusion with the posterior pharyngeal wall, scarring of the Eustachian tubes, stenosis of the nasal part of the pharynx).
An indication for surgical removal of adenoids may be a violation of nasal breathing when the proliferation of adenoid tissue overlaps the lumen of the nasopharynx by more than 2/3 (III degree of proliferation of adenoids). In this case, a violation of nasal breathing should be excluded against the background of edema of the mucous membrane of the nasal conchas (inflammatory or allergic), curvature of the nasal septum, neoplasms of the nasal cavity. Also, the surgical removal of the adenoids may be required if they overlap the excretory fistula of the auditory tubes and the resulting violation of their drainage function. The operation to remove the adenoids is called adenotomy and can be performed on patients of any age. As a rule, hospitalization is not required - removal is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, and the patient can go home the same day. For 7-10 days after surgery, observation by an otolaryngologist is indicated.
How to cure adenoids without surgery in children
Of the conservative methods of treating adenoids, drug therapy, physiotherapy, herbal medicine are usually used. The scheme depends on the presence of inflammation, the degree of proliferation of the adenoids, the general condition of the patient and the presence of concomitant pathology.
Local therapy is preferable - drug treatment of the adenoid tissue itself. It consists in rinsing the nasal cavity with antiseptic solutions (sanitation of the nasopharynx), instilling the nose with antiseptics, anti-inflammatory and drying mucous drugs. Systemic drugs are prescribed only in the presence of an acute inflammatory process. In this case, antipyretic, antihistamines, antibacterial drugs are used.
The main treatment for adenoids in children is local anti-inflammatory therapy.
Physiotherapy is effective at the stage of chronic inflammation. Exposure to a laser for the treatment of adenoids is a modern and effective remedy that, according to doctors, provides a reduction in puffiness, elimination of inflammation, drying and antimicrobial effects. The course of treatment usually consists of 10 procedures.
Ozone therapy, ultraviolet radiation, electrophoresis are also used.
As a rule, actively conducted conservative therapy allows you to reduce the overgrown pharyngeal tonsils to their normal size, to restore normal nasal breathing. Another criterion for the success of the treatment is a decrease in the frequency of colds in a child.
How to reduce adenoids in a child without surgery using alternative methods
The main treatment can be supplemented with alternative methods. However, before you carry out any procedures with folk remedies at home, you need to ask the otolaryngologist if this can be done in a particular case. The fact is that at different stages of the disease, agents of different actions may be required, in addition, some of the folk remedies are by no means safe for children, their use will be useless at best, and harm at worst.
The following are home remedies that are safe, unless the child is allergic.
Beetroot juice mixture with honey. Mix 1 glass of beet juice with 1 tablespoon of honey. The resulting product is instilled into each nostril, 5 drops 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 15-20 days. Store the mixture in the refrigerator.
Carrot juice. Freshly squeezed carrot juice is instilled into each nostril 4-5 drops 3 times a day, and also taken orally, 50 ml per day. You can store such juice for no more than a day.
Decoction of oak bark, St. John's wort and mint. Mix 2 parts oak bark, 1 part St. John's wort and 1 part peppermint. 1 tablespoon of a mixture of medicinal plants is poured with 1 glass of cold water, brought to a boil and boiled over low heat for 3-5 minutes. After that, the broth is infused for 1 hour and filtered. The resulting broth is instilled into each nostril, 2-4 drops 1-2 times a day.
Infusion of mother-and-stepmother, St. John's wort and a series with essential oil. Mix 1 part coltsfoot, 2 parts St. John's wort, 3 parts string. 2 tablespoons of the resulting mixture and pour 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain and add 1-2 drops of eucalyptus or fir oil. The resulting medicine is instilled into each nostril, 2-4 drops 1-2 times a day.
Infusion of rose hips, currant leaves, chamomile flowers and calendula. Mix 2 parts of currant leaves, chamomile and rose hips and 1 part of calendula. Pour 1 tablespoon of the resulting mixture with 1 cup of boiling water and leave for 6-8 hours in a thermos, then strain, add 1 drop of fir oil. The medicine is instilled in 2-4 drops into each nostril 1-2 times a day.
Infusion of birch, chamomile and eucalyptus leaves. Take 2 parts of chamomile flowers and eucalyptus leaves, mix with 1 part of birch leaves. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 glass of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. Bury the infusion 2-4 drops in each nostril 1-2 times a day.
Kalanchoe juice. Freshly squeezed Kalanchoe juice is diluted with warm water in a 1: 1 ratio. The solution is instilled in 2-3 drops into each nostril 3 times a day. The drug is stored for no more than a day, every day you need to prepare a new product.
Saline washings. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 glass of water, rinse the nose with the resulting solution 2 times a day using a disposable syringe without a needle.
The use of folk remedies in children requires caution and prior consultation with a doctor
Adenoids and adenoiditis
Adenoids are overgrown lymphatic tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, which normally protects the respiratory tract from adverse environmental influences. The nasopharyngeal tonsil (together with the palatine, lingual and tubal tonsils) is part of the lymphadenoid pharyngeal ring. During a routine examination of the pharynx, this tonsil is not visible; this requires special instruments.
Adenoid vegetation causes difficulty in nasal breathing, constant nasal congestion, which is difficult to get rid of, chronic rhinitis with mucous or mucopurulent discharge. Sometimes children have a dry cough of a reflex nature - flowing down the back of the pharynx, the discharge irritates the larynx. Children with adenoids often have acute respiratory infections because the hypertrophied tissue does not fulfill its function of protecting the upper respiratory tract from infection.
Adenoiditis is an infectious and inflammatory disease that affects the adenoids, as a result of which the patient's condition worsens, the body temperature rises, nasal discharge becomes abundant, sleep is disturbed, and the child becomes moody. Adenoiditis is widespread in children from 1 to 15 years of age, but is most often diagnosed in patients at 3-4 years of age.
Inflammation of the pathologically enlarged nasopharyngeal tonsil is isolated or combined with inflammation of the palatine and other tonsils of the pharyngeal ring.
The cause of the proliferation of adenoid tissue is frequent respiratory diseases and childhood - the tissues of the child's body are prone to hypertrophy in response to prolonged inflammation of an infectious or allergic nature. All those factors that reduce the defenses of the child's body contribute to the development of the disease: hypothermia, non-compliance with the daily regimen, unbalanced diet, poor sanitary conditions, allergies.
Adenoids (even outside adenoiditis) are a chronic source of infection, which can spread to the sinuses, pharynx, and bronchi, leading to allergization of the body.
Growth rates and diagnosis
The treatment regimen for adenoids depends on the degree of their proliferation. There are three degrees in total:
- The adenoid tissue covers the top of the opener or 1/3 of the height of the nasal passages. This degree is manifested by mild breathing discomfort during a night's sleep.
- The adenoid tissue covers approximately 2/3 of the opener or the height of the nasal passages. Grade 2 is characterized by persistent snoring during nighttime sleep and shortness of breath while awake.
- Overgrown adenoid tissue covers almost the entire opener; nasal breathing is completely blocked. With grade 3 adenoids, the child breathes only through the mouth, because of which the mouth is constantly open, and the nasal voice is also noted.
For the purpose of diagnostics, an examination of the nasopharynx is carried out using a reflector, rhinoscopy (examination through the nasal cavity) or epipharyngoscopy (through the oral cavity), posterior rhinoscopy (when using this method, difficulties may arise when examining young children), if necessary, they resort to X-ray examination of the nasopharynx, computed tomography.
Effects
Often, parents pay attention to deviations when the pathological process reaches the 2-3rd stage, in which the violation or absence of nasal breathing is more noticeable.
Against the background of a violation of nasal breathing and stagnation, which, in turn, impede the outflow of blood and lymph from the cranial cavity, complications, certain consequences of adenoids, may develop.
Prolonged absence of nasal breathing and related functional features lead to a violation of the formation of facial bones (the so-called adenoid type of face with an elongated lower jaw), dentition, and the development of malocclusion.
If nasal breathing is difficult, the patient receives less than 20% oxygen, which negatively affects the functioning of the brain. The formation of speech skills may be impaired, there may be a lag in mental and physical development; in school-age children, memory deteriorates, the ability to concentrate, and academic performance decreases. Oxygen starvation, which is manifested by increased fatigue, decreased appetite, tearfulness, unhealthy complexion (pale skin, dark circles under the eyes).
One of the manifestations of adenoids of the third degree is a constantly open mouth, since there is no nasal breathing
Due to the blockage of the lumen of the Eustachian tube by the overgrown lymphoid tissue and disturbances in natural ventilation in the middle ear, disturbances from the middle ear develop. This can be accompanied by hearing loss, as well as the frequent development of otitis media.
With the oral type of breathing, cold and untreated air enters the respiratory tract, which causes frequent respiratory diseases. This, as well as the inflamed adenoid tissue, weaken the child's immunity even more. Children with adenoids often develop sinusitis, eustachitis, vasomotor rhinitis, bronchial asthma, as well as disorders of the nervous system (headache, dizziness, sleep disorders, bedwetting), as well as the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract.
That is why timely treatment of adenoids in children is necessary.
Video
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Anna Aksenova Medical journalist About the author
Education: 2004-2007 "First Kiev Medical College" specialty "Laboratory Diagnostics".
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