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Introduction
Adenoids are a form of tonsils, which is found mostly among children. If causes just at the spot where the nose amalgamates with the throat region. It is a collection of lymphoid tissues and is found in the back region of the nasal cavity. It is a type of tonsils itself. The size of the tissue can be as big as a table tennis ball and can cause great trouble in breathing as well as in intake of food etc. The condition may get better either on its own, or else it would have to be surgically removed.
Epidemiology:
The disease is found more among children, all across the world. But then, at times even the adults face this condition. At times it is triggered on its own, or sometimes it is caused due to allergy of the respiratory track. The allergy may be caused due to pollen grains, dust or anything else. Children must be given at most care during such times, because if unattended, it might cause some problems to the respiratory track. | |
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Causes & Risk factors
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The exact cause of the condition is not yet determined as the doctors and experts say that there may be a variety of explanations that can be given, but one thing that has been noted is that children are more prone to it. Even then, infections of the respiratory track, especially upper regions and also allergies have been a common cause of it. The infections too can be caused due to many reasons and do not have a specific origin.
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As far as the risk factor is concerned, there are no grave dangers associated, but then again, there are some consequences. First and the foremost thing is that due to this condition, respiration through the nose can stop completely, which is not a good thing at all and it would lead to breathing through mouth. When you do that, you are at the risk of being infected by air borne diseases. Apart from that breathing through mouth, can cause some permanent change in the facial structure of the kid or the adult.
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Symptoms and signs
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Chronic sore throat
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Throat pain
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Chronic ear infection
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Excessive snoring
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Repeated cases of detection of tonsils
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Not breathing adequately during the sleep, which is also called obstructive sleep apnea
These are the few symptoms and signs. Continuous inflammation of the throat and pain while gulping food or water, etc is also observed. | |
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Diagnosis
The disease can be easily diagnosed if the symptoms prevail for an extended period of time. Sore throat and throat infections depict the condition in the best possible way. Moreover the X-ray as well as the other scans can also be helpful in diagnosing the disease.
Differential Diagnosis:
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Adenoid cystic carcinoma
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Strep throat
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Lymphoma
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Investigations
A good ENT doctor would help you understand the situation the most. Endoscopy is preferred in such cases, because it would give you a better view of the lump and would help you decide the size and growth of it. If not that, a large mirror is adjusted in such a way that the doctor can view the adenoid. At times, even X-ray scan is put into use, so that the precise location as well as the size of the node can be known. | |
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Treatment
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The most common treatment, which is put into practice, is the intake of oral antibiotics. These can be used if the situation is not that bad and the adenoid can be shirked using them. Most of the times, this approach does come out to be effective.
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If the size of the adenoid is too large, then surgical removal is preferred, which is called adenoidectomy. But surgeries are only used when the frequencies of the surfacing of adenoid increases beyond a certain limit. Once removed, it does not trouble the patient in any other way and hence the patient can be relieved for the rest of their lives.
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Complications Of Disease
Frequent ear and throat infections are caused due to the disease. In addition, the child or the adult has on and off fever, committing and chest infection. Apart from these things, difficulty in breathing always persists. Moreover, the affected person has to live with the pain too. All these things, when combined, give rise to a very bad situation. The infections in the ear, if unattended, can turn pretty bad and can cause some permanent damage to the ear. | |
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Prognosis
In case of the patients, who have get done surgical removal of the lymph tissues which are troublesome, the problem does not occur again and the individual can lead his or her life without any further indulgence. However, in case the adenoid has been suppressed by antibiotics, there are the chances that the problem may resurface, sooner or later. Such situations may lead to surgeries, but the doctors only prefer surgeries if and only if it fulfils some criteria. | |
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Prevention
Allergies often trigger the situation or condition, so make sure that you take all the necessary steps to keep yourself or the children from the things that cause addiction. It is also advisable to get the adenoid removed in the early stages, but only after consultation from a proper physician. Also, make it a point to get the throat infections treated at the earliest. | |
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References
Wetmore RF. Tonsils and adenoids. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 380. | |