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Adenoids are an abnormal growth of the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. This is a problem that most parents face with children between the ages of 3 and 7. Although sometimes adenoids are diagnosed in adult patients.
The disease leads to the fact that a person breathes through his mouth all the time, his runny nose does not stop, and snoring bothers him at night. If you ignore the adenoids, they will cause the formation of a malocclusion in a child, provoke problems with hearing and speech, reduce immunity, contribute to frequent infectious diseases, etc. You need to treat inflamed tonsils correctly, under the supervision of an otolaryngologist. Otherwise, it will not be possible to avoid surgical intervention.
Protargol is a colloidal silver solution that has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, it is often prescribed for the treatment of adenoids, in a complex therapeutic regimen.
General information about protargol
Protargol is a solution of colloidal silver in 2% concentration. The liquid can have both light and dark brown tint. It does not contain foreign impurities, completely transparent. The drug is prepared in pharmacies by order of the buyer.
The main active ingredient is silver proteinate. The finished solution is poured into dark glass bottles with a lid.
Effects of the use of protargol
For the treatment of adenoids, Protargol is instilled into the nasal passages. There, its complex compounds break down into constituent components, as a result of which silver ions are released.
They have a healing effect:
Astringent action. This effect allows you to get rid of the flow of mucus from the nose.
Removal of inflammation, narrowing of blood vessels, reduction of swelling of tissues.
Reducing the sensitivity of the tissues of the nasopharynx due to the formation of a protective film on their surface.
Destruction of pathogenic flora. Bacterial DNA is destroyed by the drug. Neither gram-negative nor gram-positive bacteria are able to resist Protargol. Even those microorganisms that have developed resistance to antibiotic therapy are sensitive to it.
Nasal breathing becomes free, sleep normalizes, a person ceases to suffer from apnea.
Elimination of complications of adenoids: getting rid of otitis media, normalization of aeration of the fistulas of the auditory tube, elimination of ear congestion.
A person’s own cells remain intact, since the main active substance does not have a destructive effect on them. Protargol can be used to treat adenoids of any degree. If therapy is carried out in a timely manner, then the patient will be able to avoid surgical intervention.
How to use protargol for adenoids?
The drug is used only locally, it is not taken orally. For the treatment of adenoids, children are instilled 3-5 drops into each nasal passage 2 times a day. For the treatment of adult patients, the number of instillations can be increased up to 4 times a day.
Be sure to rinse the nose with saline before administering the drug. If the child is older, then he is offered to blow his nose on his own. Small children need to clean the nose with an aspirator and a cotton swab.
After the toilet is completed, the child is placed on a flat surface, on his back, and the required number of drops is injected into each nasal passage. It is best to carry out the procedure in the morning and evening. The effect of the treatment can be felt after 2-3 days from its start. If the child is an infant, then Protargol is simply lubricated with nasal passages, using a cotton swab for this.
The duration of the therapeutic course is determined by the doctor. However, it should not be delayed for more than 14 days. The optimal time to achieve a therapeutic effect is a week. This will avoid the accumulation of silver in the body.
Possible harm
Protargol can cause side effects, including:
Itching and burning in the nasal passages.
Irritation of the nasal mucosa.
Excessive dryness of the mucous membranes, their redness.
Headache.
Increased sleepiness.
Dizziness.
Increased feeling of thirst.
Serious allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock, angioedema, urticaria, etc.) are extremely rare, provided that the patient has an individual intolerance to the main active substance. If after the use of Protargol in the body any unusual reactions occur, then further use of the drug should be abandoned. Be sure to contact your doctor and report the incident.
When Protargol should not be used
Protargol is not prescribed for the treatment of women bearing a child. It is also not recommended to use it during breastfeeding.
Individual hypersensitivity to colloidal silver is an absolute contraindication to the use of this drug.
The World Health Organization does not recommend prescribing drugs containing silver to children who have not reached the age of 5 years.
Important information
Some patients refuse to use silver-based drugs for the treatment of adenoids, fearing that the metal may accumulate in the body. In fact, the concentrations of the main active substance are extremely low (several tens of times lower than the daily dose of silver consumption by a person). In addition, when used topically, silver is slightly absorbed into the blood. After 1-2 weeks, the metal will be 100% eliminated from the body.
For the same reason, one should not be afraid that intestinal dysbacteriosis will develop against the background of therapy. Nasal administration of the drug avoids this problem.
An overdose of Protargol is not possible if it is used according to the instructions. However, when administering a dose that is significantly higher than recommended, it is necessary to consult a doctor and get advice. To date, no cases of drug poisoning have been reported.
It is unacceptable to take Protargol inside. The drug can lead to poisoning. Therefore, the place of storage of the medicinal product should be inaccessible to children.
Therapy with Protargol does not require refusal to undergo treatment with other medications. Its interaction with other means has not been established.
After instillation of the drug into the nasal passages, a bitter taste may remain in the mouth. Therefore, some children are reluctant to undergo the procedure for the treatment of adenoids.
During therapy with Protargol, a person can do their usual activities. The use of the drug does not have any effect on his mental or physical performance.
Despite all the medicinal effects of the drug, it often requires a supplement. Therefore, one should not be surprised that the doctor prescribes Protargol not as an independent drug, but in a complex therapeutic regimen.
It should be noted that the shelf life of Protargol is 30 days. After this time, it cannot be used. Store the vial with the silver solution in a dark place so that it is not exposed to the sun’s rays.
If the drug precipitated, then the conditions for its storage were violated. You can not use such a tool as nasal drops. The solution suitable for use has a uniform consistency, and a silver sheen does not appear on the walls of the vial.
Pros and cons of protargol
Advantages of the drug Protargol:
Low cost of the drug. The average price for a bottle is equal to 100 rubles.
Safety of the drug for the treatment of children.
The disinfecting properties of silver are confirmed by centuries of experience in its use. The drug itself began to be manufactured in the last century – in 1964. Despite the abundance of modern nasal sprays, Protargol has not lost its relevance today.
The drug is not addictive.
Protargol is able to destroy bacteria that have developed resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Cons of the drug Protargol:
The shelf life of the drug is a month, after which it must be disposed of. This is one of the few drugs on the modern pharmacological market that can only be used fresh. Therefore, it is not available to all residents of the country. Most often, small towns do not have pharmacies that would be engaged in the manufacture of medicines, having their own production for this.
Since Protargol is not produced at the factory, it is not equipped with a dispenser. Therefore, you need to measure the required dose manually.
The World Health Organization does not recommend the use of Protargol for the treatment of children under 5 years of age.
The drug is capable of producing side effects.
The drug will destroy the bacterial and fungal flora, but it is not able to cope with most viruses.