An enlarged nasopharynx is called an adenoid and occurs in children between the ages of 2 and 15 years. It can sometimes be observed in adults as well. As the adenoid grows and enlarges, it can fill the nasopharyngeal dome and spread down along the side walls, down the ear canal to the mouth of the larynx.
✏️Causes of adenoids
Pathological growth of nasopharyngeal tissue usually occurs in preschool and school-age children, after suffering from infectious diseases. For example, the origin of diseases such as scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles, angina, influenza is associated with this process. Sometimes hereditary causes, as well as frequent colds, and parents ’neglect of their children’s exercise, sports, and timely medical checkups, also allow adenoids.
✏️Adenoid symptoms
First of all, nasal breathing is disturbed, the child begins to breathe through the mouth. The patient remains relaxed and carefree. Due to adenoids, there is a lack of oxygen in the body, and the following cases are observed: headache; general malaise; insomnia; frequent fatigue; malice; hearing loss; malformation of the upper jaw teeth.
✏️Types of adenoids
Adenoids are distinguished at three levels: at level I, the adenoids cover up to 1/3 of the sternum, at level II up to 1/2, and at level III up to 2/3, or almost completely. Grade I adenoids do not significantly make it difficult for a child to breathe through the nose when awake, but their size expands more or less due to the blood filling the veins during sleep. Therefore, if a medical history reveals that the child has an open mouth during sleep, this may indicate the presence of an adenoid.
✏️Development
The enlargement of the auricle reaches such a level that in some cases it can completely occupy the nasopharyngeal cavity, hooves, ear canal, nasopharynx. In such cases, in a patient with frequent chronic inflammation of the ear, the ability to hear is sharply reduced, the sound tone changes, there is whitening of the eardrum, skin and soft membranes. After a violation of the change of breathing through the nose, a constant flow of serous fluid from the nose, the nasal cavity often becomes inflamed and sinusitis occurs.
✏️What complications can adenoids cause?
In children, the disease lasts for a long time, leading to abnormalities in the development of the facial skeleton. The lower jaw, which is constantly hanging, becomes narrow and elongated, while the upper jaw develops a hard palate incorrectly. It is formed high and narrow, the pricus is broken due to improper placement of the teeth. Adenoids adversely affect respiratory function, some mechanisms of cerebral circulation. Weakening of memory leads to various neuropsychological changes. In children with hypertrophy of the nasopharynx, over time, there may be a violation of the formation of the thorax (goose breast), anemia, an increase in the size of the spot at the base of the eye.
✏️Treatment of adenoids
Conservative treatment is applied during acute inflammation, in other cases the adenoid is removed only surgically. The conservative method is used when the ankles are slightly enlarged or inoperable. The patient is prescribed antihistamines and calcium gluconate. Surgery is necessary when enlarged nostrils make it difficult to breathe through the nose, which is usually done at the age of 5-7 years. However, adenotomy is also performed in breastfed children when nasal breathing is more difficult, hearing is impaired, and other pathological events due to adenoids occur.
