Enlarged adenoids refer to the enlargement of adenoids i.e. the lymphoid tissue located at the junction of the back of the nose and throat. Like tonsils, they are a part of the body’s immune system and play a major role in fighting infections (like the bacteria and viruses entering the body via the nose) in children. Adenoid enlargement is a problem affecting children, those in the 3-10-year age group are the most vulnerable.
Cause Behind Adenoids Enlargement
Adenoids are present in every child that act as the first line of defense in the body along with tonsils. They normally grow up till 5-7 years of age and thereafter, they start shrinking and finally disappear around teenage. This is the physiological growth and regression pattern of adenoids, which are needed only until the child becomes a teenager. By that time, the other immune systems get mature enough to fight infections and disease. The adenoids, which are no longer needed, regress and disappear.
But in some children adenoids tend to get enlarged. The main risk factors behind this are recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and nasal allergies. As soon as the germs enter via the nose, adenoids trap them and fight them. In this process, the adenoids get temporarily swollen. With time, this swelling reduces and they come back to their original size. However, if the infections are recurrent, the adenoids, due to constant swelling, are unable to return to normal size and get permanently enlarged even in the absence of any acute URTI.
Signs And Symptoms Of Enlarged Adenoids
1. Nasal blockage causing mouth breathing, noisy breathing and snoring
2. Dry mouth, dry cracked lips, offensive breath due to breathing from mouth
3. Disturbed, restless sleep; drowsiness and sleepiness during the day; difficulty in concentration
4. Nasal voice, enlarged glands in the neck, frequent colds, sore throat, and difficult swallowing. Appetite may also be poor. A child having enlarged adenoids has a blocked nose and breathes through the mouth. Chewing and breathing at the same time are difficult, therefore these children avoid eating at all.
5. Adenoid facies: The term facies refers to a set of specific facial features in a person suffering from a particular disease. The typical set of facial features noted in a child having enlarged adenoids is known as adenoid facies. The features of adenoid facies include a long face, open mouth, high arched palate, prominent incisors, short upper lip and a pinched nose.
Complications Of Enlarged Adenoids
1. Sleep apnea (momentary pauses in breathing arise during sleep) in severe cases. Sleep apnea leads to poor sleep, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating on studies at school.
2. Ear-related complaints such as difficulty in hearing, deafness, and ear infections. The eustachian tube connects the throat to the middle ear. When the adenoids get enormously enlarged, they may block these eustachian tubes, leading to deafness or middle ear infection.
3. In fact, persistently enlarged adenoids retard the overall development of the child. The retarded growth in such cases is attributed to two main factors – poor appetite leading to nutritional deficiencies, and improper sleep. The growth hormone required in children is primarily secreted during sleep. A child who lacks sound sleep will have lower levels of this growth hormone and hence, suffer poor growth and development
Homeopathy for Adenoids
Homeopathy is a very natural and effective alternative to surgery in cases of enlarged adenoids in children. Homeopathy treats adenoids in two phases. In the first phase, homeopathic medicines help to provide relief for symptoms like a blocked nose, snoring, etc. Besides, they treat any ongoing infection if present when a person approaches for treatment. In the second phase, these medicines build the immunity of the person to prevent chronic upper respiratory tract infections. It also treats nasal allergies if that causes enlargement of adenoids. Homeopathy helps to halt the further increase in the size of adenoids. The adenoids gradually start to shrink in some time with the proper course of homeopathic treatment as guided by a homeopathic doctor. In conventional medicine, surgery may be advised in many cases of enlarged adenoids. Even if adenoids are surgically removed, the regrowth of adenoids has been noted. Here homeopathy may help to prevent surgery in many cases, having mild to moderate grade of enlarged adenoids. Homeopathy first fixes the root cause, followed by shrinking adenoids back to normal size. However, how much these medicines can help and for how long they need to be taken depends on the severity of the condition.
Homeopathy strengthens immunity and prevents recurrent infections
The main cause behind enlargement of adenoids is recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. So this root cause needs to be treated to get relief in these cases. So, here homeopathic medicines address this root cause by focusing on strengthening the child’s immune system. Once the immunity is strong, the child becomes less prone to catching cold frequently and less susceptible to recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Once this key factor leading to enlarged adenoids is treated, the adenoids get the time to shrink and go back to their normal size.
Safe medicines
Homeopathic medicines offer the safest treatment in cases of enlarged adenoids as these do not have any adverse side effects. The reason behind this is the use of medicines prepared from natural substances like plants, minerals, etc. These are free from any toxins and treat the condition of enlarged adenoids in a very gentle and natural way by boosting the body’s self-healing mechanism. In mainstream medicines, the treatment protocol for enlarged adenoids mainly includes frequent use of antibiotics, steroid nasal spray, and antihistamines (this is in the case of nasal allergies). These medicines give only temporary relief and may lead to side effects. On the other hand, homeopathy medicines aim for a permanent cure and have zero side effects. Homeopathic treatment for the recommended time as per a homeopathic physician also helps to reduce dependency on the use of antibiotics, antihistamines, and nasal sprays remarkably.