Treatment of cough with adenoids in children
The content of the article:
- Features of the cough accompanying the adenoids
- Adenoids and adenoiditis: what is it
- Additional symptoms
- Diagnostic methods
-
Treatment of cough with adenoids in children
- Conservative method
- Folk remedies
- Surgery
- Video
Cough with adenoids often occurs in preschool children. Adenoids are dangerous not only with prolonged cough, but also with hearing loss, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and in severe, prolonged course - and mental impairment.
Cough caused by adenoids occurs in response to irritation of the pharynx by flowing mucus
Features of the cough accompanying the adenoids
The cough is dry, no phlegm is produced. The cough occurs in the form of attacks, more often at night. The mechanism of cough development is associated with the fact that with adenoids, nasal breathing is disturbed, and the child breathes through the mouth. Breathing through the mouth leads to drying of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, which provokes the development of a cough.
With adenoiditis, the nature of the cough is somewhat different:
- moist, accompanied by mucus or pus;
- occurs at night and in the morning;
- during the day, coughing and choking are more characteristic.
Adenoids and adenoiditis: what is it
Adenoids are hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. The nasopharyngeal tonsil is a lymphoid tissue located in the fornix of the pharynx.
Normally, the pharyngeal tonsil performs a protective function. Like other lymphoid formations of the pharynx, it serves as a barrier on the way of viruses and bacteria to the respiratory organs.
The pharyngeal tonsil is well developed only in children. Therefore, the cough accompanying adenoids develops mainly in children 3-7 years old. After about 15 years, the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil atrophies and is replaced by connective tissue.
There is no direct cause that would lead to hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil. The occurrence of adenoids is facilitated by:
- frequent respiratory infections;
- damage to the central nervous system during pregnancy;
- hereditary predisposition;
- disorders of the immune system.
Adenoiditis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the hypertrophied pharyngeal tonsil. Inflammation can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Adenoiditis is acute (up to 1 month) and chronic.
Additional symptoms
Cough is not the only symptom of the disease. Adenoids can be suspected by the characteristic clinical picture. Typical signs:
- difficulty in nasal breathing;
- nasal voice;
- snore;
- loss of smell;
- adenoid face (malocclusion, half-open mouth);
- deterioration of mental activity.
Nasal breathing is impaired so much that the child breathes through the mouth more often. This is accompanied by dryness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, which leads to a cough. If the adenoids are greatly enlarged, they can close the opening of the auditory tubes. This leads to the development of otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear. The child's hearing decreases, the ear may hurt.
The loss of smell is accompanied by the fact that the food does not taste good to the child. Accordingly, appetite may decrease.
The child is drowsy during the day, shows weakness and increased fatigue.
With adenoiditis, signs of inflammation come to the fore:
- increased body temperature;
- runny nose;
- general weakness, lethargy.
With adenoiditis, inflammation of the middle ear, paranasal sinuses occurs more often. In this case, the pain syndrome, mucopurulent discharge comes to the fore.
Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis of adenoids is difficult. They are difficult to examine due to the deep location of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. The methods used for suspected adenoids are presented in the table.
| Study title | Indications | Description of results |
| Digital examination of the nasopharynx |
In all cases. Used at the beginning of the diagnosis, if adenoids are suspected. The method is now deprecated. |
A finger examination allows you to assess the consistency of the adenoids. A dense consistency indicates tonsil hypertrophy, and a loose consistency indicates inflammation. |
| Pharyngoscopy | In all cases. | On examination, mucus drainage along the back of the pharynx is determined. |
| Endoscopic rhinoscopy | In all cases. | An endoscope is inserted into the child's nose or mouth, which makes it possible to assess the size and color of the tonsil, signs of inflammation. You can also identify concomitant pathology: hypertrophy of the turbinates, curvature of the septum. |
| Flora swab | If there are signs of infection. | Sowing confirms the bacterial nature of adenoiditis, allows you to identify the direct pathogen. |
| General blood analysis | If there are signs of infection. | With inflammation of the tonsil, an increase in the level of leukocytes, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is determined. |
| X-ray examination of the paranasal sinuses | It is performed if you suspect sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses). | Parietal thickening and uneven contour of the mucous membrane (in the presence of sinusitis). |
| Otoscopy | In all cases. | Restriction of mobility and retraction of the tympanic membranes. |
| Impedance measurement | With hearing loss. | According to the results of the study, it is possible to assess the state of the sound-conducting apparatus and determine the level of damage. |
According to the results of the examination, the degree of adenoids is determined:
- The pharyngeal tonsil covers the top of the opener.
- The hypertrophied pharyngeal tonsil closes ⅔ of the opener.
- The enlarged amygdala completely covers the opener.
Determination of the degree of development of adenoids and the presence of complications (otitis media, sinusitis, inflammation of the tonsil) is necessary for the choice of treatment tactics.
Treatment of cough with adenoids in children
Treatment of cough caused by adenoids is to eliminate the cause, that is, the adenoids themselves. Therapy includes the use of medications, medicinal plants, and, if necessary, surgery. The result of treatment depends on the duration of the disease, the frequency of exacerbations and the general condition of the body.
Conservative method
Conservative treatment requires an integrated approach. Used to cleanse the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, the use of local and systemic drugs. The duration of conservative treatment is 10-14 days.
The basis of therapy for adenoids and adenoiditis is the sanitation of the focus of inflammation. The structure of the nasopharyngeal tonsil predisposes to the retention of bacteria, mucus, pus (due to the existing depressions and lacunae). The following methods are used for cleansing:
- cuckoo procedure;
- saline nasal sprays;
- rinsing the nose with a solution of sea salt.
The methods are aimed at removing mucus and microorganisms from the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Cleansing the nasopharynx and sanitizing the focus of inflammation will lead to the fact that the mucus will not irritate the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Accordingly, the cough will disappear.
Nasal lavage is often carried out using the "cuckoo" method
After cleaning the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, you can use topical preparations - drops. Decongestant drops are prescribed for children, for example, Nazivin, Ephedrine. Removing swelling makes nasal breathing easier.
If necessary, systemic drugs can also be used:
- mucolytics;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- antibiotics.
Adenoids can be treated with herbal preparations. Children are prescribed Sinupret in the form of tablets or drops. The drug activates mucociliary clearance, which facilitates mucus excretion.
If there are signs of a bacterial infection, antibacterial agents are prescribed. The causative agents of adenoiditis can be intracellular parasites - mycoplasma, chlamydia. In this case, children are prescribed macrolides, for example, Azithromycin.
Folk remedies
Alternative methods and remedies are not highly effective for adenoids and adenoiditis. They can only be used as adjunctive therapy. You can use marshmallow roots, ivy leaves, chamomile flowers, mint leaves. Consultation with a pediatrician about the use of traditional medicine is mandatory.
Surgery
If the conservative method of treatment is ineffective, an operation is prescribed - adenotomy. Surgical intervention for adenoids consists in removing the hypertrophied tonsil. Indications for surgery:
- 3 degree of development of adenoids (complete closure of the opener).
- Frequent relapses of chronic adenoiditis, when the disease does not respond to drug treatment.
- The adenoids close off the lumen of the Eustachian tubes, which leads to recurrent otitis media.
- Sleep apnea syndrome.
- Complication from other organs, for example, recurrent inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, hearing loss.
Adenotomy can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the underlying pathology.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
Found a mistake in the text? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
