Tonsillar hyperplasia in children

Tonsillar hyperplasia is a very common disease. The incidence rate of this disease is particularly high in children. This is mainly because children have relatively weak resistance and are prone to diseases such as acute rhinitis and influenza. These diseases will cause symptoms of swollen tonsils to a certain extent. If this symptom is not treated in time, there is a great risk. Below, we will introduce you to the relevant knowledge about tonsil hyperplasia in children in detail.

1. Causes

Children are prone to acute rhinitis, acute tonsillitis, and influenza. If the symptoms recur, the adenoids may rapidly proliferate and hypertrophy, aggravating nasal obstruction and obstructing nasal drainage. The secretions from rhinitis and sinusitis will stimulate the adenoids to continue to proliferate, forming a vicious cycle of cause and effect. It is more common in children and often coexists with chronic tonsillitis.

2. Local symptoms

Children may develop otorhinolaryngology and other symptoms due to enlarged adenoids blocking the posterior nasal cavity and the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube. Symptoms include open-mouth breathing during sleep, snoring with the tongue root falling back, restless sleep at night, excessive nasal secretions, occlusive nasal sounds when speaking, and slurred speech. Due to long-term mouth breathing, the facial bones are developed abnormally, the maxillary bone becomes longer, the hard palate is high and arched, the dentition is irregular, the upper incisors are exposed, the lips are thick, the face lacks expression, there are signs of dementia, and an "adenoid face" is formed. There is ataxia between swallowing and breathing, and choking and coughing often occur. The secretions flowing down irritate the respiratory mucosa, making it easy to get tracheitis. Obstruction of the Eustachian tube can easily cause non-suppurative otitis media, leading to hearing loss and retraction of the tympanic membrane.

3. Systemic symptoms

There are often systemic nutritional and developmental disorders, which are mainly manifested by reflex neurological symptoms of chronic poisoning, such as dull expression, chest tightness and restlessness, poor lung expansion, which may lead to pigeon chest or flat chest over time. A few people develop cor pulmonale or even acute heart failure due to chronic nasal obstruction and long-term hypoxia. Examination revealed an adenoid face, a high and narrow hard palate, and retronasal endoscopy revealed pink, lobed lymphoid tissue masses on the roof of the nasopharynx. A soft mass could be felt on palpation of the nasopharynx. If necessary, a lateral nasopharyngeal X-ray may be performed to aid diagnosis.

IV. Precautions

Snoring caused by enlarged adenoids in children is often ignored by parents. It is often combined with enlarged tonsils to constitute the cause of snoring. Special attention should be paid to whether there is sleep apnea, and go to the hospital to check the adenoids if necessary. Children's adenoids can be examined indirectly under nasopharyngeal endoscopy. More advanced fiber laryngoscopes or electronic laryngoscopes and nasal endoscopes can also conveniently examine the adenoids.

5. Treatment Methods

Surgical removal of the adenoids can be performed at the same time as tonsillectomy, or separately. Those who are not suitable for surgery can consider radiotherapy (but it is rarely used). In recent years, some people believe that plasma therapy can be used to treat adenoid hypertrophy. The method is simple and causes minimal pain.