Adenoids: You Can't Do It Without Surgery

Adenoids are a formation of lymphoid tissue that forms the basis of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. This disease is widespread among children from 1 year to 14-15 years. Adenoids most often occur between the ages of 3 and 7 years. Currently, there is a trend towards identifying adenoids in younger children.

The presence of adenoids in a child can lead to various disorders and diseases. One of the most common complications is hearing loss due to changes in the normal physiology of the middle ear. An enlarged nasopharyngeal tonsil blocks the mouth of the auditory tube, making it difficult for air to pass freely into the middle ear. As a result, the eardrum loses its mobility, which affects the auditory sensations.

Adenoids can also cause frequent colds. A condition for normal physiology of the nasal cavity is free nasal breathing. If a child has an obstacle to the flow of air in the form of adenoids, the outflow of mucus is hampered, and favorable conditions are created for the development of infection and the occurrence of inflammatory diseases.

Another complication caused by adenoids is allergies. Adenoids, making nasal breathing difficult, not only contribute to the occurrence of inflammatory diseases, but also themselves are a good environment for the attack of bacteria and viruses. Therefore, the tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, as a rule, is in a state of chronic inflammation. Microbes and viruses receive a “permanent residence” in it. A so-called focus of chronic infection arises, from which microorganisms can spread throughout the body.

Decreased activity and learning ability can also be caused by the presence of adenoids. It has been proven that when nasal breathing is difficult, the human body receives up to 12-18% less oxygen. Therefore, a child suffering from difficulty in nasal breathing due to adenoids experiences a constant lack of oxygen, and, above all, the brain suffers.

Speech development disorders can also be caused by adenoids. If a child has adenoids, the growth of the bones of the facial skeleton is disrupted. This, in turn, can adversely affect the formation of correct sound pronunciation and the development of speech in general.

Due to the above complications, the presence of adenoids is a serious problem and requires treatment. In most cases, especially with severe symptoms, treatment is surgical removal of the adenoids - adenotomy. This procedure is performed in a hospital setting and is performed under general anesthesia. However, in some cases, with mild adenoid hypertrophy, you can try conservative treatment: the use of special medications, physiotherapy, etc.

In any case, the decision on the method of treating adenoids should be made by an otolaryngologist after a complete examination of the child and assessment of the degree of development of the disease. It is important to remember that ignoring the problem can lead to serious complications, so if you suspect the presence of adenoids, you should consult a doctor.