What should be done about children's adenoid hypertrophy?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 02, 2024
00:00
00:00

In the case of adenoid hypertrophy in children, the first step is to assess the severity of the enlargement. If the adenoids are enlarged to the third degree, affecting breathing, especially with noticeable snoring after falling asleep at night, or symptoms such as frequent waking due to choking and hypoxia, surgery is generally recommended. This involves going to an otolaryngology department to surgically remove the enlarged adenoids. If the enlargement is only at the first degree or between the first and second degrees, and not very severe, local anti-inflammatory and swelling-reducing medications can be used for treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
59sec home-news-image

Is adenoid hypertrophy related to rhinitis?

The adenoids are located at the rear end of the nasal cavity, specifically in the nasopharynx. When the adenoids become enlarged, they can affect the ventilation and drainage functions of the nasal cavity. Therefore, enlarged adenoids can cause rhinitis, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, and snoring during sleep; these impact the nasal ventilation, which are the most common symptoms. The rationale is that when the adenoids are enlarged, the nasal mucus cannot be normally drained through the nasal cavity's drainage function. As a result, children may exhibit symptoms of excessive nasal discharge and nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing through the nose. Additionally, the rhinitis caused by the enlarged adenoids leads to nasal congestion, which then manifests as the child snoring and breathing through the mouth during sleep. Over time, this can lead to a condition known as "adenoid facies."

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
51sec home-news-image

Adenoid hypertrophy is caused by what?

Adenoid hypertrophy can be divided into physiological and pathological hypertrophy. Physiological hypertrophy is a normal part of everyone's development. It begins at the age of three, peaks at about seven, and gradually shrinks around the age of ten. Pathological hypertrophy, on the other hand, often occurs on the basis of physiological hypertrophy, followed by inflammatory stimuli. Factors such as viral infections, colds, and allergic reactions are the main causes of pathological adenoid hypertrophy. This type of hypertrophy can lead to poor respiratory function, symptoms such as snoring during sleep, nasal congestion, and a runny nose. If the enlarged adenoids block the Eustachian tube, it can also lead to secretory otitis media.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
1min home-news-image

Can adenoid hypertrophy recur after removal?

The adenoid is located in the lymphatic epithelial tissue of the nasopharyngeal area. Enlargement of the adenoid can block breathing and obstruct the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube, leading to secretory otitis media, and may result in secondary infections of the sinuses. Therefore, for symptoms such as snoring and hearing loss that occur simultaneously after adenoid enlargement, surgical removal is performed. The adenoid does not have a complete capsule, so it is only possible to remove the adenoid tissue as much as possible, and it cannot guarantee the complete removal of all adenoid tissue. Therefore, there is a small rate of recurrence after adenoid removal, with a recurrence rate of about 0.5%, meaning that the recurrence leading to the reappearance of symptoms is around 0.5%. Whether further treatment is needed after recurrence requires an in-person assessment at a hospital.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
45sec home-news-image

Can you eat fish with enlarged adenoids?

Patients with adenoid hypertrophy can eat fish, as fish is a common type of meat and does not have side effects on the condition of adenoid hypertrophy, nor does it affect the treatment outcome of adenoid hypertrophy. There is also no direct conflict with the medications used to treat adenoid hypertrophy. For patients with significant adenoid enlargement accompanied by related clinical symptoms, such as nasal congestion, mouth breathing, and snoring during sleep, timely treatment is necessary. Most patients can opt for treatment with oral medications combined with nasal spray medications. If conservative medical treatment is ineffective and the condition is severe, surgical removal might be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
55sec home-news-image

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.