Patient's question:
The son is five years old. Around the age of three, an examination revealed adenoid hypertrophy, but considering that surgery might reduce his immunity, it was never performed, and no effective medication was found. Now, he suffers from severe nasal congestion and difficulty breathing during sleep, but there are no other symptoms such as frequent colds.Doctor's answer:
Adenoid Hypertrophy:1: Local symptoms
Children with narrow nasopharyngeal cavities, such as adenoid hypertrophy, can block the posterior nasal and the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube, leading to symptoms in the ear, nose, and throat. The ear may develop purulent otitis media or sinusitis. The throat and lower respiratory tract often cause cough suppression or bronchitis. Due to prolonged mouth breathing, facial bone development is impaired, resulting in what is known as the "adenoid face."
2: Systemic symptoms
Poor overall development and nutritional status, along with neurological symptoms such as night sweats, bruxism, enuresis, and sluggish reactions. Long-term respiratory obstruction and insufficient lung ventilation can lead to elevated pulmonary artery pressure, potentially causing right heart failure in severe cases.
3: A. Auxiliary examinations
High and narrow hard palate, often accompanied by palatine tonsillar hypertrophy.
B. Fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy reveals proliferated lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx.
C. Nasopharyngeal CT scan shows hypertrophied adenoid tissue in the nasopharynx.
4: Diagnosis
A. Children with mouth breathing, snoring during sleep, frequent nightmares, bruxism, and sudden crying or laryngeal spasms in dreams.
B. Eustachian tube compression often causes catarrhal otitis media, middle ear effusion, and hearing loss.
C. Adenoid face with atrophic alar wings and narrow anterior nasal holes.
D. Palatine tonsils are often hypertrophied, with lymphoid follicle hyperplasia in the throat wall.
5: Treatment:
It is recommended to visit a traditional Chinese medicine throat department, where herbal powder is directly sprinkled onto the affected area, combined with oral herbal medicine and acupuncture. This comprehensive approach is fast-acting, long-lasting, and free of side effects, making it the best choice.