Periodically, all babies suffer from colds. However, some children get sick too often. Constant illnesses force parents to look for the cause of such a problem. Often, frequent colds are associated with uncontrolled growth of the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil - adenoids. In this case, lymphocytes become the cause of chronic inflammation. That is why most doctors advise the removal of adenoids in a child. Reviews confirm that this is the main method to improve the well-being of the baby.
Physiological characteristics
Adenoid enlargement in children occurs at the age of seven. It is during this period that there is an increase in their activity in connection with the formation of the immune system. With a significant increase, surgery may be recommended. Removal of adenoids in children is considered whenfollowing symptoms:
- The baby hardly breathes through his nose at night. With an increase in adenoids of 2-3 degrees, such symptoms are also observed during the day.
- At night the child sniffs heavily, snores. There may even be breath holding - obstructive sleep apnea.
- The baby's speech ceases to be legible. Voice becomes nasal.
- Hearing is declining. Sinusitis and otitis media constantly recur.
- The child is seriously and often sick with viral, colds. Often, a baby is diagnosed with pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis.
Diagnosis of adenoids
Visually, with the child's mouth open, it is impossible to see the problem. Diagnose the growth of adenoids allow special methods. The doctor examines them with a mirror, performs a study with his fingers and endoscopy of the nasopharynx. After the diagnosis, the doctor decides whether it is necessary to remove the adenoids in the child. Reviews show that such an operation has a beneficial effect on the further well-being of the baby.
Let's consider diagnostic methods in more detail:
- Examination by the finger method. Today, this study is practically not used. Since this is an uninformative and painful examination.
- X-ray. Such a study shows the size of the adenoids. However, little information is provided about the inflammatory process. In addition, an x-ray is not a completely harmless examination for a child's body.
- Endoscopy. The most painless and safe study that provides a complete picture of the growth of adenoids. A prerequisite inin this case is a completely he althy child. If the baby has recently been ill, the clinical picture of the inflammatory process will be false.
When removal of adenoids is necessary
Most parents are afraid to have surgery. Removal of adenoids, reviews testify to this, is constantly delayed. Many are trying to find an alternative in conservative treatment. Today, many methods of such healing have been developed. But, unfortunately, not all of them are effective. In addition, for complex cases, the only solution is the surgical removal of adenoids in a child. Feedback from parents confirms that after such an intervention, many he alth problems can be avoided.
When is surgery required? The decision on the need for surgical intervention is made with the following symptoms and diseases:
- If the baby is seriously disturbed breathing through the nose. Apnea syndrome occurs, in which the delay is from 10 seconds. This condition is very dangerous for the baby, as it can lead to permanent hypoxia.
- In case of transformation of the tonsil into a malignant one.
- With exudative otitis media. Mucus builds up in the middle ear, causing hearing loss.
- If the growth of adenoids provokes maxillofacial anomalies.
- In case of unsuccessful treatment of adenoids with conservative methods throughout the year.
Contraindications for surgery
There are cases when surgery can harm the body. Removal of adenoids in children is not performed under the following circumstances:
- blood diseases;
- the presence of an infectious disease, influenza (surgery is allowed only 2 months after recovery);
- to babies diagnosed with bronchial asthma, serious allergic diseases (treatment is carried out exclusively by a conservative method);
- for cardiovascular diseases.
Adenoid removal methods
In modern medicine, there are several ways to perform an operation.
Traditional method
Surgical intervention is performed with the usual instruments of the surgeon. This removal option has significant drawbacks. Unfortunately, with this method, it is not always possible to completely excise the overgrown tissue. And this is fraught with relapse. In this case, the adenoids grow again, and the child needs another operation. In addition, healing with traditional excision is rather slow. After all, the wound bleeding surface is large.
Laser removal
This is a more efficient method. This operation is bloodless and painless. The laser beam affects only the area of inflammation, while quickly eliminating infectious edema. Laser removal can be carried out at any stage of complexity. For small adenoids, a carbon dioxide apparatus is used. In this case, they are not removed, but are smoothed out with a laser. Forexcision of large tonsils use the method of coagulation. This operation is performed without anesthesia, because the laser has an analgesic property.
Endoscopic adenoidectomy
This is the most modern method. If with the traditional method the excision of adenoids was carried out almost "blindly", then with this method the endoscope is inserted into the oral cavity or half of the nose. This allows you to perfectly see the entire surface of the operation. Of course, this method guarantees the complete removal of the adenoids. And protects the little patient from re-growth.
Pain relief methods
This question almost always worries parents. Doctors say that anesthesia for adenotomy (surgery to remove the adenoids) is not required. Lymphoid tissue does not have nerve endings. As a result, the patient does not experience pain. The problem lies precisely in the psychological factor. The child is small enough to be afraid of the operation.
Western clinics have long carried out the removal of adenoids under anesthesia. Today, our hospitals have followed the example of foreign colleagues. At the same time, we must not forget that any anesthesia is a serious risk factor. Especially when it comes to children's fragile body.
Sometimes operations are performed using local anesthesia. Painkillers are sprayed onto the mucous membranes. But the psychological factor can play a role. The baby sees blood and is able to get very scared.
Today, most parents insist on general anesthesia for their children,who need to have their adenoids removed. Reviews indicate that babies in this case tolerate the operation more favorably. Without a shudder, they remember the ward, the doctors. Children who underwent an adenotomy without "plunging into sleep" and watched the progress of the operation, in most cases, received psychological trauma.
Consequences of the operation
Most often the results are favorable. After the operation (removal of the adenoids), the ability to naturally breathe through the nose returns to the babies. Children become less susceptible to viral and colds. In young patients, immunity is significantly strengthened. The auditory function is perfectly restored, the quality of speech is improved.
However, in some cases, the results are disappointing - there are repeated growths of tissue.
The reasons for such negative consequences may lie in the following factors:
- Incomplete removal of adenoids. Even a small piece can grow to a significant size.
- Age. According to statistics, patients who underwent surgery before the age of three often experience a recurrence of the disease.
- Allergy. Such a factor can reduce immunity. As a result, already completely excised tissues may reappear.
Operation reviews
Almost all parents note that after the removal of the adenoids, the child's condition quickly returned to normal. Children who snored a lot, after excision of the nasopharyngeal tonsils, got rid of this “habit”. Voicebecame louder.
Parents notice that after the operation, the kids get sick much less. At the same time, serious complications and consequences of a cold no longer cause. After a while, children suffering from deafness also regained their hearing.
Parents also note the fact that delaying the operation leads to jaw deformity. As a result, small patients have to wear a special plate or braces.
Conclusion
Due to the deterioration of the environmental situation, inflammation of the adenoids began to occur quite often. Some babies are fine with conservative treatment. Others in whom the stage of the disease is running are recommended removal of the adenoids. In a child, the reviews eloquently confirm this, after the operation all functions are restored.
