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Adenoid hypertrophy
Is the incidence of adenoid hypertrophy high?
The incidence of adenoid hypertrophy is very high, typically caused by acute inflammatory stimuli, and is directly related to the current dietary habits of children. Acute inflammation can include acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute rhinitis, and sinusitis. Inflammation leads to congestion, edema, proliferation, and exudation of the adenoids. This can cause patients to experience persistent bilateral nasal congestion, snoring during sleep, decreased hearing, tinnitus, deafness, ear pain, and other related symptoms. A diagnosis can be clarified by examining with an electronic nasopharyngoscope. In terms of treatment, conservative treatment for adenoid hypertrophy starts with oral antibiotics. Additionally, inhalation nebulization is needed to relieve the congestion and edema of the adenoids. If conservative treatment is ineffective, the patient may need to undergo adenoidectomy for recovery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Is adenoid hypertrophy without snoring serious?
Adenoid hypertrophy does not cause snoring and is not severe. The main clinical symptom of adenoid hypertrophy is persistent snoring, accompanied by persistent bilateral nasal congestion. Adenoid hypertrophy is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology, caused by repeated inflammatory infections that lead to congestion, edema, and proliferation of the adenoids. When the adenoids are enlarged, they can cause persistent bilateral nasal congestion and snoring during sleep. In severe cases, it can result in a facial appearance characteristic of adenoid hypertrophy. A detailed examination at a hospital using a nasal endoscope and a nasopharyngeal CT scan can confirm the diagnosis. For the treatment of adenoid hypertrophy, if there is no snoring, no treatment is necessary. If clinical symptoms are present, the initial treatment should include symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment and nebulized inhalation therapy. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical removal of the adenoids may be necessary.
Does a child sleeping with their mouth open definitely mean that they have enlarged adenoids?
Children sleeping with their mouths open might be due to enlarged adenoids, nasal congestion, or the development of poor sleeping habits. Sleeping with the mouth open can potentially impact the facial development of children, and in severe cases, may lead to developmental deformities of the face and affect the child's intellectual development. Therefore, when parents notice this phenomenon in their children, it should be taken seriously. They should promptly take their children to the hospital for a consultation to ascertain the reasons behind the mouth-opening during sleep and address the cause appropriately to mitigate the adverse effects this habit may have on the child.
Adenoid hypertrophy can undergo nebulization treatment.
Adenoid hypertrophy can be treated with nebulized inhalation, which is very effective. The adenoid is a lymphatic tissue in the nasopharyngeal area that generally becomes enlarged in children. Its enlargement is mostly caused by inflammatory stimulation, commonly seen in acute rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis. It can cause persistent nasal congestion, snoring at night, and can also lead to symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear stuffiness. During an examination with an electronic nasopharyngoscope, enlarged and congested adenoids blocking the nasal passages can be observed. In terms of treatment, patients can initially opt for conservative treatments, where nebulized inhalation has proven to be very effective. It can reduce congestion and edema of the adenoids to relieve symptoms. However, if conservative treatment is ineffective, patients may need to undergo adenoidectomy. This surgery requires hospitalization, and patients can generally recover and be discharged within a week.
How big should the adenoids be to consider surgery?
Enlarged glands are generally more common in infants and preschool children. They can block the posterior nasal passages, causing the child to breathe through the mouth, snore, and hold their breath. If the child is over one year old, surgical treatment can be considered. Because the anesthesia risk is higher with very young children, but as they get older, chronic mouth breathing and breath-holding can lead to abnormal facial development and brain oxygen deficiency, affecting the child's development. Theoretically, the earlier the adenoid hypertrophy is discovered and treated, the better the treatment effect. However, due to the young age of the child and the risks of anesthesia, surgery is generally best scheduled around the age of two years, after the child has turned one.
What medicine is good for enlarged adenoids?
Adenoid hypertrophy is a common and frequently occurring disease in the field of otolaryngology head and neck surgery. Clinically, adenoid hypertrophy is mainly treated through surgical removal, which is typically performed under endoscopic guidance using techniques such as plasma surgery. As for its clinical drug treatment, it should be noted first that there are no drugs specifically targeting adenoid hypertrophy. The drugs currently used, such as mometasone furoate nasal spray and montelukast sodium, are aimed at treating allergic factors related to adenoid hypertrophy. These drugs have some effects, but their efficacy is relatively poor, and only a small portion of patients achieve certain therapeutic effects. Therefore, if adenoid hypertrophy causes secondary diseases such as snoring, otitis media, or sinusitis in patients, it is still necessary to proceed with active surgical treatment. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician)
When is a good age to have surgery for adenoid hypertrophy?
The reason adenoid hypertrophy requires surgical treatment is because it blocks the passage of our nasopharynx, leading to nasal congestion and snoring, affecting body and jawbone development, and even causing otitis media which can impair hearing. There is no absolute age requirement for adenoidectomy; surgery is an option if these complications are present. Clinically, we generally consider the size of the adenoid and whether it causes complications, along with the patient's actual age. Typically in our clinical practice, surgery is usually considered after the child is two and a half years old, as long as the symptoms and hypertrophy are present. It is important to understand that adenoid hypertrophy is quite common around the ages of 6 to 7 years, when the enlargement peaks, making adenoidectomy a common procedure for children of this age group.
What medicine is used for adenoid hypertrophy?
The adenoids are normal anatomical structures located in the nasopharynx. In childhood, the glandular tissue of the adenoids becomes enlarged, blocking the normal passages of the nasopharynx and leading to secondary diseases. Clinically, there are no drugs specifically targeting enlarged adenoids. However, other medications, such as mometasone nasal spray and montelukast sodium, may have some effect on adenoid enlargement and can help a minority of patients avoid surgery. Nonetheless, it is advised not to rely on these drugs as the primary treatment method for enlarged adenoids; the main treatment is surgical.
What are the consequences of not treating adenoid hypertrophy?
Adenoid hypertrophy, if not treated, can have serious consequences. It primarily leads to persistent bilateral nasal congestion that progressively worsens. This is often accompanied by snoring during sleep. Additional symptoms include persistent tinnitus, decreased hearing, and a feeling of stuffiness in the ears. Adenoid hypertrophy can also cause a high-arched hard palate, irregular teeth, and facial deformities. Therefore, once adenoid hypertrophy occurs, active treatment is necessary. Generally, adenoid hypertrophy is caused by inflammation, leading to congestion, edema, and proliferation of the adenoids, which is most common in children aged three to eight. In treating acute adenoid hypertrophy, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is needed, including the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids for local nebulization inhalation. If conservative treatment is ineffective, adenoidectomy using plasma may be necessary. This treatment can completely cure the condition.
Can adenoid hypertrophy be cured?
Adenoid hypertrophy is curable. It is mainly divided into acute and chronic types. Acute adenoid hypertrophy is mostly secondary to acute rhinitis and sinusitis. It is caused by the invasion of Staphylococcus aureus or hemolytic streptococcus, leading to acute congestion and edema of the gland. Symptoms include nasal congestion, snoring, tinnitus, and hearing loss. During the acute phase, patients need symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment, and oral or intravenous antibiotic therapy is effective. However, if the patient's adenoid hypertrophy is due to chronic recurrent inflammation, conservative treatment becomes ineffective. In such cases, adenoidectomy under plasma may be necessary. This surgery requires hospitalization, general anesthesia, and postoperative antibiotics to prevent local infection. Recovery and discharge can typically occur about one week after surgery. After recovery, patients should avoid catching colds to prevent the recurrence of adenoid hypertrophy. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)