Adenoids mostly affect children under 10 years old. In adults, they are quite rare. Inflamed tonsils can provoke a number of complications, among which the most serious is the adenoid type of face.
Provoking factors for the occurrence of adenoids
Adenoids provoked:
- ARVI;
- hypothermia;
- compromised immunity;
- measles;
- whooping cough;
- scarlet fever.
Risk factors for the development of a condition such as adenoid vegetation include:
- chronic infections;
- improperly balanced diet;
- monotonous diet with high carbohydrate intake and lack of vitamins;
- bad ecology in the region where the person lives;
- bad habits weaken the body's immune system and make it vulnerable;
- prone to allergic reactions, which leads toinflammation of the adenoids.
Consequences of pathological growth of adenoids
Pathological growth of the adenoids leads to the formation of complications in the child's body, both acute and chronic.
Adenoid growth prevents the full passage of air through the nose, which leads to a number of complications.
Among them should be highlighted:
- Rhinitis provoked by stagnant processes in the maxillary sinuses. Chronic rhinitis often contributes to ear inflammation.
- A malocclusion in a child is formed due to breathing through the mouth. When inhaling, the child presses the tongue against the palate, as a result of which it is located high. This position of the sky changes not only the bite, but also the shape of the skull.
- There is a deformation of the teeth, which is also provoked by mouth breathing. The teeth are also subject to deformation. The fangs are set too high and the front teeth in the upper jaw protrude forward. Adenoid type of face is a sign of occlusion of the teeth of the lower jaw.
- The lower jaw becomes wide, takes the form of a wedge. The skull is deformed due to the high position of the sky.
- At the background of chronic rhinitis, nasality occurs. The child constantly talks through the nose, does not pronounce certain sounds.
- Neurological disorders noted. Memory and attention are significantly reduced, which is provoked by chronic circulatory disorders in the brain. This causes migraines, irritability, apathy and increasedfatigue. Such children are characterized by poor school performance, it is difficult for them to memorize educational material.
- With a long-term illness, as a result of insufficient inhalation volume, the chest can be deformed. For example, there is such a pathology of the skeletal structure as "chicken breast".
- Reduced protective function of the amygdala causes a weakening of the immune system. Viruses often enter the respiratory system, which provokes the development of laryngitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis and bronchitis.
All of the above signs are a clear confirmation of how important it is to treat adenoids in a timely manner. A complicated form of this disease can cause the appearance of many pathologies, among which the adenoid face should be attributed. This pathology, if not treated in time, can cause various complications.
What is an adenoid face?
How can the face and skull be deformed with adenoids?
Adenoid facial type is a pathological facial expression that is formed due to the presence of adenoid vegetation.
With an adenoid face, a number of main signs are noted, which can be attributed to:
- holding the mouth in a half-open position;
- presence of malocclusion;
- presence of the lower jaw in the form of a wedge;
- a facial expression devoid of emotion;
- dejected expression;
- presence of nasality.
Where is the nasopharyngeal tonsil located?
This tonsil is located on the border of the upper and lower nasopharyngealwalls. Its basis is a tissue penetrated by the smallest mesh, consisting of lymphatic and blood vessels.
The functionality of the nasopharyngeal tonsil lies in the development and maintenance of immunity at an optimal level. It also acts as a defense mechanism. When air is inhaled, all viruses, microphages, toxins end up in the oral cavity, then they penetrate into the cell membrane of the tonsil, where they meet with cells of the immune system and antibodies. Their functionality lies in the rapid neutralization and removal of processed products.
Causes of pathology
The main reason for the appearance of such a condition as adenoid vegetation is the long-term course of inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx. The inflammatory process becomes the main provocateur of an increase in the size of the nasopharyngeal tonsil.
Adenoid face in a child
The causes of this pathology are different. The adenoid type of face is more common in children from dysfunctional families in which due attention is not paid to the he alth of the baby.
What causes the development of an adenoid face in a child, any laryngologist will say. The basis of the disease is hypertrophy of the tissues of the tonsil, located in the nasopharynx. It develops against the background of a chronically occurring inflammatory process in the mouth, pharynx and nose.
From this we can conclude that the risk of violation of the face and skull is high in those babies who often suffer from colds and infectiousdiseases.
A critical weakening of the immune system caused by malnutrition, the addition of secondary manifestations of rickets suffered in childhood - all these are provoking factors.
Intellectual and psychic retardation may be a starting point rather than a consequence of an adenoid face type. This is due to the fact that children with mental retardation often keep their jaws open. The result is a sustainable habit.
Is the pathology subject to conservative treatment?
Can a child's adenoid face be corrected through conservative treatment? Rather, the answer will be negative. In this case, much depends on the age of the child and the degree of completion of the formation of cranial bones. If it is not completed, then you can try to correct the shape of the face through a specially designed set of gymnastic exercises.
It should be noted that before the elimination of such a pathological condition as an adenoid face, complex therapy is carried out aimed at curing the nasopharyngeal tonsil. If necessary, surgical intervention is indicated. A deviated septum should also be ruled out.
In the later stages of the development of the disease, you can resort to the help of a specialist in the field of facial surgery. But you should also constantly work with the child to develop the habit of breathing through the nose, not the mouth, and teach to keep the mouth closed.
What does an adenoid face look like in a child, photos are presented in this article. Straightawayyou can also note the most striking signs:
- mouth open;
- presence of facial puffiness;
- obvious lethargy in appearance;
- smoothed folds of the nasolabial area;
- due to the constant breathing through the mouth, the bones of the face and jaw are deformed;
- upper jaw narrowed;
- face becomes elongated;
- bite is deformed;
- upper lip becomes shorter;
- incisors located on top are constantly visible;
- lip skin becomes dry;
- chest deformed;
- teeth can be deformed at the top, becoming twisted around the axis.
- Secondary complications such as hearing loss and blockade of the Eustachian tube by compacted tissues of the tonsil near the nasopharynx can also be traced;
- there is a strong snoring at night, which often degenerates into apnea.
Approximately half of the children diagnosed with "adenoid face", the photo of which is presented below, have mental and mental retardation, respiratory pathology, insufficient oxygen supply to the brain tissues.
At what age are adenoid vegetations more common in children?
Adenoid face in a child is noted at the age of 3 to 5 years, since it is during this period that the tonsils of the nasopharynx reach their maximum development.
When do parents seek medical help?
Usually for appointmentsParents who have noticed the following symptoms in their children come to the laryngologist:
- presence of difficulty breathing through the nose;
- chronic rhinitis;
- mouth breathing during periods of sleep and wakefulness;
- presence of snoring at night;
- ear inflammation;
- puffy face;
- hearing loss;
- cough at night;
- frequent colds;
- ARVI.
Such a pathology as an adenoid face, the signs of which are listed above, is provoked by the growth of adenoids. In babies, there is a gradual change in the structure of the facial bones. As a result of this pathology, an adenoid face is formed in the child.
The main stages in the development of pathology
Medicine knows three main stages in the development of such a pathological condition as an adenoid face.
- At the first stage, the nasopharyngeal tonsil does not grow too intensively. Already at this stage, violations in the work of the respiratory system are noted. Due to the active influence of pathogenic viruses, the tonsil tissue begins to thicken, and its swelling appears. Every day it takes up more and more space in the nasopharynx. As a result of the lack of oxygen supply, the child becomes lethargic and nervous. Thus, in the first stage of the disease, the child mostly breathes freely, but during the day he breathes through his nose and mouth.
- At the second stage, the child practically does not breathe through the nose, more and more often uses the mouth to consume oxygen. As a result, mucousthe shell of the oral cavity is susceptible to the negative effects of bacteria, resulting in the development of bronchitis or laryngitis. At this stage, snoring at night is noted. Parents are much more likely to suspect amygdala hypertrophy. Moreover, this stage is characterized by the development of signs of an adenoid face.
- At the third stage, colds bother the child more and more often. There is chronic rhinitis with copious discharge of pus. Oxygen is consumed only through the mouth. Snoring at night is more intense. There is also a nocturnal cough, purulent inflammation of the ear develops, and the level of hearing decreases. In the third stage, almost all signs of an adenoid face are noted.
Basic methods of therapy and correction
The choice of course of therapy to eliminate adenoids and adenoid face depends on the stage at which this disease is.
Before proceeding with the correction of the deformed face, it is necessary to eliminate the indirect cause of tonsil inflammation in the nasopharyngeal system. When stopping the disease, you can stop the process of facial deformation.
Methods of conservative therapy
Many are interested, adenoid type of face, how to fix it better, conservatively or promptly?
Doctors say that conservative therapy is highly effective in the first and second stages of adenoids.
Conservative therapy should include:
- Drugs against bacteria that quickly fight respiratory infections.
- Drugs that promote vasoconstriction. They belong tosymptomatic remedies that have no effect on the underlying disease. The funds help to eliminate nasal congestion and relieve the general condition of the child for a while.
- Immune stimulants that fight colds caused by impaired immunity.
Treatment through surgery
Adenoids are removed through surgery if the disease is in the first or second stage.
The following types of operation are distinguished:
- The classic way. With it, the tonsils are to be removed. In this case, local or general Beckman anesthesia is used. Such an operation lasts no more than half an hour.
- Endoscopic view of the operation. Overgrown adenoids are removed under general anesthesia using an endoscope, which is inserted into the oral cavity. This method is more efficient than the first method. Recovery of the child after the operation takes place in a day.
- Laser way. With its help, vegetations of adenoids are destroyed without incisions. The tissues of the tonsil are evaporated.
Existing contraindications for surgery
Contraindications include:
- inflammatory process in acute condition;
- violations of blood rheology.
Many doctors point to the fact that a conservative treatment can help cure a disease only at the initial stages of its development.
As for the conservative waytreatment to eliminate the adenoid face, then a lot depends on the age of the child and the degree of the disease. The transition from one stage to another causes a rapid deformation of the bones of the skull.
At the initial stages and at an earlier age, a complex of gymnastic exercises that are aimed at developing the muscles of the face and special therapeutic exercises for the face can correct the adenoid face.
In this regard, it can be stated that the existing deformation of the face in the later stages can be eliminated only through surgical intervention. In adult patients, correction of the adenoid face is possible only with the use of plastic surgery.
Conclusion
Adenoid type of face is a complex pathology provoked by untreated adenoids. The overgrown nasopharyngeal tonsil disrupts breathing, as a result of which the palatal part of the mouth, facial muscles, teeth and bones of the skull are deformed. The adenoid type of face in adults is much less common than in children.
