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Adenoid hypertrophy
What should I do about adenoid hypertrophy?
Adenoid hypertrophy is a relatively common disease among children, and it also occurs in a small portion of adolescents and adults. Generally, it is necessary to first perform a nasopharyngoscopy to assess the specific extent of hypertrophy. If the hypertrophy is very mild and there are no subjective symptoms, the situation is usually managed with regular check-ups without special treatment. If the hypertrophy is more significant and accompanied by nasal congestion, sleep disturbances, snoring, or a feeling of ear blockage, treatment typically involves the use of oral medications and nasal sprays. Generally, a standard treatment lasts about two weeks, after which the effectiveness should be reassessed. If there is no effectiveness, adenoidectomy, a relatively routine surgery, may need to be considered. However, most patients are very effectively treated with conservative management.
How to treat children's adenoid hypertrophy?
If children experience hypertrophy of the adenoids and the symptoms are not very severe, it is not recommended to perform surgery immediately. Instead, conservative treatments can be adopted, such as using nasal sprays. With conservative treatment over a period of time, the enlargement of the adenoids in children may improve. However, if conservative treatment persists for about three to six months without effect, and the child exhibits symptoms such as snoring during sleep, nasal congestion, or the presence of yellow nasal discharge, it is advisable to take the child to a reputable hospital for an examination. If the diagnosis confirms that surgery is indeed indicated, surgical removal of the adenoids can be considered as a treatment option.
Does adenoid hypertrophy require medication?
Adenoid hypertrophy does not necessarily require medication because it is relatively common clinically. Some cases may need medication, while others can be observed. This mainly depends on the severity of the adenoid hypertrophy and the specific clinical symptoms. If the enlargement is not severe and there are no clinical symptoms, it is possible to consider observation without drug treatment, as the adenoids can gradually shrink as age increases. If the adenoids are significantly enlarged and may be accompanied by clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, snoring, and mouth breathing, it is necessary to consider timely drug treatment. If drug treatment is ineffective, some cases may need to consider adenoidectomy surgery.
Postoperative care for adenoid hypertrophy removal surgery
Adenoid hypertrophy is currently treated primarily via surgical removal using a plasma scalpel to ablate the hypertrophied adenoid tissue, effectively treating the condition. The advantages of using a plasma scalpel include minimal bleeding during and after the surgery, less pain, smaller wounds, and faster healing and recovery, achieving significant therapeutic results. Post-surgery, it is advised that patients avoid hot baths and foot baths for two to three weeks, refraining from strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and excessive exercise, which could lead to bleeding. Diet-wise, it is recommended to avoid overly hot foods to prevent delayed postoperative bleeding of the adenoids.
How should adenoid hypertrophy be treated?
The main factors to consider are the extent of the enlargement and the associated clinical manifestations. If the enlargement is mild and does not cause significant nasal congestion, snoring, sleep apnea, or waking up due to breath-holding, conservative treatment can be used. The common medications for conservative treatment include nasal sprays and nasal steroids. If the adenoid enlargement affects breathing function, leading to poor sleep, snoring, breath-holding, or even waking up due to breath-holding, aggressive surgical treatment is required. Surgical treatment involves removing the enlarged adenoids to ensure a clear nasopharynx and bilateral posterior nasal openings, thereby ensuring proper breathing function and alleviating related secondary diseases.
Does adenoid hypertrophy cause yellow nasal discharge?
The glands located in our nasopharyngeal area are immune tissues. Enlargement of these glands can lead to an increase in their size, which may block our posterior nasal apertures. Consequently, the secretions in our nasal cavity cannot be properly discharged. This may eventually lead to spontaneous infections causing sinusitis, characterized by the discharge of yellow nasal mucus. Thus, there is a direct relationship between the occurrence of sinusitis in children and the enlargement of these glands. Clinically, it can be observed that after surgery for gland enlargement, the symptoms of sinusitis and the discharge of yellow nasal mucus are significantly reduced or even completely cured. Therefore, it can be said that there is a direct relationship between gland enlargement and conditions such as rhinitis, sinusitis, and the discharge of yellow nasal mucus.
Can adenoid hypertrophy be treated conservatively?
Adenoid hypertrophy is a common condition in children, primarily caused by excessive growth of the adenoid tissue on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. This can lead to sleep apnea, snoring, and nocturnal hypoxia in patients, subsequently causing a decline in memory, lack of concentration, fatigue, and other symptoms. In mild cases of adenoid hypertrophy, where there are no significant symptoms of breath-holding or hypoxia, conservative treatment can be applied. This includes the use of steroid nasal sprays and oral administration of nasal decongestant granules, which can alleviate snoring and excessive nasal secretions. However, if a patient exhibits clear symptoms of breath-holding or hypoxia, and adenoid hypertrophy is confirmed through sleep monitoring, surgery is then necessary to treat the condition.
Reasons for adenoid hypertrophy in children
There are many causes of adenoid hypertrophy in children, most of which are due to infections. For instance, infections like pharyngitis or sinusitis can trigger adenoid hypertrophy. If a child experiences adenoid hypertrophy, it is recommended to visit the otolaryngology department of the hospital for a checkup. After a detailed examination to determine the specific cause, treatment can be tailored based on the child's individual condition. It is important to avoid greasy, spicy, and irritating foods when dealing with adenoid hypertrophy. It's advised that children consume plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits and engage in more outdoor activities.
Does adenoid hypertrophy require nasal irrigation?
Enlarged adenoids require nasal cleansing, which can be done using saline solution for nasal irrigation. During irrigation, the inflammatory secretions on the surfaces of the nasal cavity and the pharyngeal adenoids can be washed off, thereby alleviating the symptoms of enlarged adenoids. This can relieve the patient's nasal congestion and snoring during sleep. This is a conservative treatment method for enlarged adenoids. Additionally, during the acute phase of enlarged adenoids, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is also necessary, using antibiotics such as penicillins or cephalosporins, which are effective. Administration of budesonide via nebulization can also be combined to reduce congestion and edema of the mucous membrane on the surface of the adenoids, relieving symptoms. If the adenoids remain enlarged for an extended period, and conservative treatments are ineffective, and if the patient has severe snoring symptoms, then adenoidectomy might be necessary to completely cure the condition. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
Does a child sleeping with their mouth open indicate enlarged adenoids?
The mouth and nose are two organs of the human body used for breathing. Normally, breathing is done through the nose, but when the nose is blocked, mouth breathing occurs. Therefore, mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory discomfort and nasal congestion. Common causes like acute and chronic rhinitis, upper respiratory infections, enlarged tonsils, enlarged adenoids, and nasal foreign bodies can all lead to children sleeping with their mouths open. Thus, a child sleeping with an open mouth does not necessarily indicate enlarged adenoids. If a child experiences nasal congestion, snoring, or mouth breathing for more than a month, it is advisable to consult an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) for a timely examination.