Symptoms and Treatment Of Adenoid Disorders
Adenoids are small lumps of lymphatic tissue nestled above the tonsils that help protect against upper respiratory tract infections. Adenoid disorders—also known as adenoidism or adenoiditis—occur when the adenoids become swollen, making it hard to breathe or swallow.
What causes adenoid disorders?
Experts do not know why adenoidism is so common in toddlers and young children, although they suspect it may be due to frequent colds or allergies.
What are the symptoms of adenoid disorders?
Typically, children with adenoid disorders speak with a nasal tone and breathe through their mouths. They may snore, have trouble swallowing, and periodically stop breathing while sleeping (a condition known as obstructive sleep APNEA). They also may have a raspy cough after awakening, bad breath, repeated ear infections or sore throats, persistent runny nose, labored and noisy breathing, snoring, or unusual sleep patterns.
Diagnosis
Adenoid disorders are hard to detect because of the location of the adenoids, which cannot be seen by looking into the mouth. A special viewing instrument is needed.
Treatment
In the past surgical removal of the adenoids (ADENOIDECTOMY) and tonsils in children was quite common. Today, before recommending surgery a doctor may first suggest waiting to see if a child outgrows the problem. Adenoids grow most quickly duringthe first five years of a child’s life; after this, they begin to shrink until they disappear by adolescence.
If the adenoid swelling persists, however, the doctor may first recommend antibiotic treatment to eliminate possible bacterial infection. If the adenoid problem is caused by respiratory allergies, treatment may ease allergy symptoms and gradually reduce swelling.
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