What is adenoid hypertrophy?
Adenoid hypertrophy is the growth of the adenoid tonsil and this condition can occur with or without an acute or chronic infection of the adenoids They can obstruct enough airflow so breathing through the nose requires an uncomfortable effort and inhalation occurs through an open mouth. It also affects the voice as well as hearing.
Who is at risk?
Adenoid hypertrophy is a childhood disease. Adenoids are present at birth and grow to their largest size between the ages of 3 and 5 and begin to shrink around the age of 7 or 8 and are usually almost gone by adulthood.
What are the causes of adenoid hypertrophy?
Following are some of the causes responsible for the hypertrophy of adenoids-
- Viral infections
- Recurrent allergies
- Allergens/Irritants
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Children under 5 years
- Frequent nosebleeds
What are the functions of adenoids?
Adenoids are a patch of tissue that is high up in the throat, just behind the nose. They, along with the tonsils, are part of the lymphatic system.
Adenoids are made of lymphoid tissue which consists of connective tissue and white blood cells, especially lymphocytes. Adenoids help to fight infections in the body as they produce antibodies or white blood cells.
They generally shrink during adolescence and disappear by adulthood.
What are the signs and symptoms of adenoid hypertrophy?
Although lymphoid tissue acts to fight infections, but sometimes bacteria and viruses can lodge within it and survive. Very large adenoids will block air passage in both the nose and the ears. This obstruction of normal air ventilation can lead to both sinusitis and otitis media.
Other symptoms seen in adenoid hypertrophy are-
- Bad breath.
- Dry mouth.
- Frequent ear infections
- Cracked lips.
- sleep apnea.
- Mouth breathing, difficult breathing.
- runny nose or nasal congestion.
- Snoring
- Restlessness while sleeping.
How can we diagnose this condition?
- X-ray (side view of the throat).
- Sleep apnoea studies (severe cases only).
- Physicians may take a complete medical history and perform a physical examination.
- Throat culture.
- Blood test.
- Streptococcal test
- Nasal endoscopy.
Is the removal of adenoids safe?
Yes, adenoid removal is a safe process. Removal of adenoids is only done if enlarged adenoids are causing breathing issues, swallowing difficulty or recurrent ear infections.
However, rarely certain complications like bleeding, infection, and voice change might be seen.
Do adenoids affect speech?
Yes, enlarged adenoids can cause both resonance and speech issues.
Adenoids play an important role in the speech development of children, up to puberty.
Can adenoids affect hearing?
Yes, adenoids affect the hearing especially if repeated infections occur which can lead to sinus and ear infections. Badly swollen adenoids can sometimes lead to infections or middle ear fluid causing a temporary hearing loss.
What are the complications of adenoid hypertrophy?
Certain common complications seen in cases of adenoid hypertrophy are-
- Chronic ear infections.
- Sleep apnea.
- Pulmonary hypertension.
- Right-sided heart failure
- Voice changes
What is the homoeopathic treatment for adenoid hypertrophy?
- Sanguinaria- Hypertrophy of adenoids with Offensive breath and purulent expectoration. The patient complains of Dry and constricted feeling in the throat.
- Tuberculinum- It is a suitable medicine for adenoids with increased sensitivity to cold. The patient complains of a hard, dry cough with thick, easy and profuse expectoration during sleep.
- Baryta carb- for cases of adenoids with tonsillitis where shooting pain as of excoriation, in the throat is felt worse during deglutition.
- Cistus Canadensis- Suited to cases of adenoid enlargement with Swelling and suppuration of glands of the throat along with tonsillitis.
- Calcarea carb- Medicine for children with hypertrophies adenoids and excessive sweating on the head. These cases often show a tendency for fat deposition.
