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Adenoids are a special tonsil that is located in the nasopharynx. It is part of our immune system and helps protect the body from viruses and germs. Sometimes it becomes inflamed, which leads to adenoiditis – an increase in the pharyngeal tonsil. In the vast majority of cases, adenoiditis is diagnosed in children, usually children under the age of 10 suffer from it, but for adults this disease is almost unfamiliar. The fact is that this tonsil decreases with age and by the age of 12-14 it can disappear altogether, although not always.
In children, adenoiditis can be triggered by many factors.
– The pharyngeal tonsil is one of the first in contact with the external environment, inhaled air passes through it. In the event of an acute respiratory disease, allergies and viral infections, it gives an immune response and increases. With untimely treatment, the tonsil tissue ceases to fight the infection, then its own inflammation occurs – adenoiditis, explains Rezeda Sattarova, a pediatric otolaryngologist.
A new environment can provoke adenoiditis in children. Often the disease wakes up if the child has moved to a new kindergarten, school, or you have moved. When entering a new team, the body encounters unusual microbes, and the adenoids react to them as best they can.
Symptoms of adenoiditis in children
Parents may suspect adenoiditis themselves if they closely observe their child. The most obvious symptoms of adenoiditis in children are:
- nasal voice (the child speaks through the nose);
- difficult or absent nasal breathing;
- snoring during sleep or even holding your breath (apnea);
- increased body temperature;
- purulent discharge from the nose.
“It is also necessary to pay attention to the nasopharynx and make an appointment with the ENT specialist in case of frequently recurring otitis media — inflammation of the middle ear,” says children’s otorhinolaryngologist Reseda Sattarova.
Inflammation of the adenoids has three degrees and it is good if the disease can be caught on the first of them, when it is difficult for a child to breathe through his nose in a dream.
Further, problems with nasal breathing will only get worse. At first, the baby will begin to sleep with his mouth ajar, and then he may completely lose the ability to breathe through his nose.
Types of adenoiditis in children
Purulent
One of the symptoms of adenoiditis in children is often pus. It appears if bacteria come into play. Pus flows down the surface of the enlarged tonsils and promises additional problems. With purulent adenoiditis, there is a risk that mucus and pus will get into the throat. This can lead to the development of acute pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis or bronchitis. There is no point in explaining that it is not worth bringing to this stage.
Acute
Adenoiditis can be both acute and chronic. Acute adenoiditis develops in a short time, the tonsils become inflamed due to a viral or bacterial infection.
Acute adenoiditis in children may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, but in the chronic form, the temperature is usually normal. In this form, adenoiditis can proceed for quite a long time. However, in a child with a chronic disease, the nose is permanently blocked. In addition, with such an ailment, hearing may gradually decrease.
Allergic
Sometimes adenoiditis in children is caused not by bacteria or viruses, but by the most banal substances that act as allergens. When a child inhales dust, spores, plant pollen, the adenoids react to them as if they were an enemy and become inflamed. It is important to understand in a timely manner that this is allergic adenoiditis, since it makes no sense to treat it promptly. It is necessary to find the cause – the allergen, eliminate it and relieve inflammation.
If the disease is of an allergic nature, the treatment of adenoiditis is carried out in conjunction with an allergist.
Treatment of adenoiditis in children
At the first symptoms of adenoiditis, children should be taken to see a doctor – a pediatrician or an otorhinolaryngologist. With self-medication, there is a risk of only exacerbating the problem.
“Many patients, when a runny nose appears, begin to independently purchase nasal drops in a pharmacy, but, for example, in the case of adenoid vegetations, the use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops more often aggravates the process than helps the treatment,” explains children’s otorhinolaryngologist Reseda Sattarova.
It is best to entrust the treatment of adenoiditis in children to a doctor, since it is important to establish the degree and nature of the disease for the selection of drugs.
“The nature of the inflammation is determined by the doctor during the examination, depending on the examination data, he may recommend certain types of additional examination (blood test, bacteriological culture of a smear from the nasopharynx, rhinocytogram), and depending on the results, prescribe treatment,” explains children’s otorhinolaryngologist Reseda Sattarova.
An individual approach is important, since the body of people is arranged differently.
– Many parents believe that the severity of the disease depends on the degree of enlargement of the adenoid, but this is not always the case. There is a dependence on the type of structure of the nasopharynx, the nature of the disease, the ENT clarifies.
If adenoiditis is recognized in time, then conservative treatment prescribed by a doctor will suffice. However, if there is a risk of complications, the specialist may decide to perform the operation.
What antibiotics can be used for adenoiditis
It is impossible to determine which drugs should be used without examining a specialist – there is a high risk of doing more harm than good. Only a doctor, based on tests, can recommend medication.
They are prescribed if adenoiditis occurs due to bacteria.
“Most often, local and systemic antibacterial drugs are used for a purulent process, and local hormonal drugs for allergic processes, but they are not indicated for all ages,” says Reseda Sattarova, a children’s ENT.
The list of the most common drugs for the treatment of adenoiditis in children includes:
- spray “Polydex with phenylephrine” (it facilitates breathing, relieves swelling and helps to defeat the infection);
- spray “Isofra” (an antibiotic that is effective against many bacteria);
- Sofradex drops (most often they are instilled into the eyes and ears, but sometimes they are also prescribed for instillation into the nose).
All these drugs should be used only as directed by your doctor. They are dispensed from pharmacies by prescription, because they have an extensive list of contraindications and side effects.
The doctor may also prescribe hormonal drugs for the treatment of adenoiditis in children, they can reduce inflammation, although they also have their own side effects. Among these drugs:
- spray “Flixonase”;
- spray “Nasonex”;
- Avamis spray.
What drops can be used for adenoiditis
Medicines for adenoiditis are most often available in the form of sprays or drops. Many people prefer drops, since drugs, when instilled, travel a longer path and cover a large area of inflamed tissues.
It is important to remember that before instilling medicines, you need to rinse your nose. Many folk recipes will fit here:
- saline solution (one teaspoon of salt per liter of water);
- decoctions of chamomile, St. John’s wort, calendula;
- “Furacilin” or “Aquamaris”;
- still mineral water.
When the nose is washed, you can drip the medicine prescribed by your doctor. Often with adenoiditis in children is prescribed:
- “Sialor”;
- “Sinupret”;
- as antiseptics “Miramistin” and “Chlorgesidin”.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are good, but as an addition to what the doctor prescribed. Far from every inflammation can be cured with decoctions, but they are good for washing the nasal cavity and alleviating the condition.
The most commonly used juice of celandine, Kalanchoe and aloe, decoctions of lingonberry leaves, St. John’s wort, sea buckthorn infusion.
For example, celandine juice has a cauterizing effect, so this treatment is not suitable for the smallest. For older children, 4 drops of juice are instilled into each nostril three times a day.
You can wash the nasopharynx with a decoction of lingonberry leaves. Two tablespoons of crushed leaves should be poured with a glass of boiling water and let it brew for half an hour in a water bath. When the decoction has cooled, it can be used.
St. John’s wort is prepared in the same way. You need to take 10 grams of grass and pour it with a glass of boiling water. The broth should be infused for half an hour at room temperature. Then it should be strained and, when it has cooled to a comfortable temperature, rinse the nose using a rubber bulb.
Prevention at home
– For the prevention of adenoiditis in children, it is necessary to ensure the rational stay of the child in the fresh air, more often take him to the sea. The formation of the immune system is also affected by the mode of sleep and rest, therefore it is very important that the time of night sleep in a child comes no later than 22:00. We must not forget about airing the premises and timely wet cleaning, especially during the autumn-winter period, says Reseda Sattarova, a children’s ENT.
You should avoid contact with people suffering from SARS, as well as not run your own colds and other ailments associated with the ears, throat and nose.