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What
happens when the adenoids are enlarged? Can
my doctor "see" my child's adenoids? Can
medicines be used to treat adenoid problems? What are the adenoids,
anyway? The
adenoids are lymphoid tissue very similar to tonsils and are located in
the nasopharynx (the area behind the nose). Adenoid tissue is normally
spread out along the side walls and roof of the nasopharynx. Diseases in
the adenoids often are associated with diseases in the tonsils.
Enlargement and infection may occur separately in either the adenoid or
tonsil area or diseases often occur together. What happens when the
adenoids are enlarged? The
most characteristic symptoms of enlarged adenoids is mouth breathing and a
chronic runny nose. During early stages, mouth breathing may only be at
night and associated with snoring. With
severely enlarged adenoids, the mouth is kept open throughout the day with
drying of the lips and mucus membranes of the mouth. Chronic mouth breathing alters the normal development of the
facial bones causing the face to become long and narrow. The upper jaw
becomes narrow with less room for the incoming permanent teeth causing a
condition called crossbite. Severe
enlargement of the adenoids is often associated with significant tonsil
enlargement. With both the nose and mouth obstructed, sleep apnea may
develop. Sleep apnea may lead to severe complications in the heart and
lungs. Other
symptoms of enlarged adenoids include voice changes with nasal, muffled
quality as if there is a constant cold. A cough may be present especially
at night because of mucus draining into the back of the throat or due to
irritation of the voice box because dry air is breathed through the mouth
without the benefit of being warmed and moistened by air passagee through the nose. Your
child may be having a hearing problem due to fluid build up behind the
eardrum as the Eustachian tube is blocked by large adenoids. Can medicines be used to
treat adenoid problems? Adenoid
infections may be present with or without significant adenoid enlargement.
A chronic runny nose with bad breath raises the suspicion for this
problem. Often children are incorrectly diagnosed with chronic sinus
infections. The treatment for adenoid infection is an antibiotic. If
the problem is infrequent and readily resolves with therapy, no further
action is needed. Some children are healthy only while on antibiotics. As
soon as the antibiotics are stopped, the infection trapped in the adenoid
tissue recurs. In these cases, an adenoidectomy would be recommended. Can my doctor
"see" my child's adenoids? There
are three primary methods for evaluating the adenoids. The most common is
by x-ray. A second method is by using local anesthesia and a flexible
telescope to directly look at the adenoids through the nose. Many children
are not cooperative with this exam especially if they are under 4 years
old. Gentle restraint is often required. The
final method is to look directly at the adenoids while the child is under
general anesthesia. This method is most commonly used in children who have
been diagnosed with another problem requiring surgical treatment. The most
common time when an examination under general anesthesia is performed is
when a child has chronic ear infections and is undergoing placement of ear
tubes. By
far, the best treatment for enlarged adenoids is surgical removal. Some
children respond very well to intermittent short courses of steroids taken
by mouth or to long-term local steroid sprays to the nose. These
treatments may delay the need for surgery,
but ultimately, they are not acceptable long-term treatments. More
details about the adenoidectomy may be found in the Surgical
Procedures section of this site. The information provided on
this web site is not intended to take the place of consultation with your
physician. You should always consult a physician whenever you require
diagnosis or treatment. |
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