ENT
CONDITIONS
Adenoids
When hypertrophied nasopharyngeal tonsil starts producing symptoms, the condition is referred to as adenoids. The normal involution of the nasopharyngeal tonsil starts from the onset of puberty, but sometimes it can persist for a longer period.
Causes
Age : Adenoids occur usually between the age of 3 years and 10 years. They may be present earlier also.
Physiological : Often the hypertrophy of nasopharyngeal tonsil is physiological, but it is considered to be unhealthy if it produces symptoms.
Infection :
Non-specific : In many cases, infection supervenes.
Tuberculosis rarely occurs.
Predisposing factors are similar to those for acute and chronic tonsilitis.
Symptoms
Associated with obstruction
Nasal Obstruction leads to mouth breathing, snoring, drooling of saliva from the mouth and difficulty in eating, particularly in infants. Adenoid facies may develop gradually.
Nose becomes pinched and narrow because of the lack of respiratory air flow. There is a chronic nasal discharge.
Mouth remains open, particularly at night. The teeth start protruding and become irregular and crowded, while the lower jaw becomes "under-shot". High arched palate develops. There is drooling of saliva. The face becomes expressionless.
Chest becomes flattened. If there is a combination of rickets and nasal obstruction, pigeon chest and Harrison's sulcus may develop as a result of inspiratory dyspnoea and soft chest.
Voice becomes flat and toneless (Rhinolalia clausa).
Eustachian Tube Obstruction may occur which leads to middle ear diseases like Eustachian catarrh, serous otitis media, acute otitis media and chronic otitis media. This results in deafness or otorrhoea.
Associated with infection
Nose: Purulent discharge from the nose due to rhinitis and sinusitis may occur.
Throat: Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection is frequent. The patient may have postnasal discharge, pharyngitis, tonsilitis and cough.
Ear: Recurrent Eustachian catarrh, acute otitis media, chronic otitis media or serous otitis media may occur.
Lymphaedenitis: Upper deep cervical nodes and the nodes in the upper part of the posterior triangle of the neck get infected.
Bronchial Asthma and bronchitis, if present may get aggravated.
General
Nocturnal Enuresis and night terrors may be present due to suffocation.
Mental Backwardness is not real, but the child may become basckward in studies because of deafness.
Treatments
Homoeopathy removes all the symptoms which are caused by adenoids. Gradually all the symptoms are removed and further growth of adenoids is inhibited. It also helps in building up patients immunity.
Homoeopathic medications which help in such patients are thuja, baryta carbonica, natrum carbonica etc.
Breathing exercises are also advised for such patients.
