Vegetations or adenoids are glands similar to tonsils located in the middle of the nose, in the back of the throat, at the meeting point of the nostrils, the throat, and the Eustachian tubes. During childhood, they are part of the body’s defense system against infections.
Its primary function is to retain and capture substances that could be harmful to the body (bacteria, viruses, or dust). Once captured, they process them and activate the immune response or defenses.
Vegetations cause problems in childhood when they grow more significant than usual (either naturally or due to repeated infections in the airways). And it is that the vegetations increase in size from birth until the child turns four years old, and then they are reduced until they almost disappear in adult life.
The increase in its size is a consequence of infections when the immune system is working. All young children usually suffer from this pathology, but when symptoms begin to appear, it is considered a problem.
Prognosis of the disease
The increase in the size of the vegetations is a consequence of successive infections, something that would not be serious if it were not for their location, since the increase in their size generates an increase in mucus, obstructing the child’s nose and blocking air from entering the ears through the Eustachian tubes.
This blockage causes otitis (ear infection) and nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nasopharynx).
If there is an enlargement of the vegetation, there is an infection. As the adenoid grows, ventilation worsens, which helps to cause disease. And if the air passes but contains germs, an infection occurs, which, in turn, makes the vegetation grow.
Symptoms of vegetations
Symptoms of vegetation begin to develop as the upper airway becomes obstructed. Some of the symptoms that may appear are:
- Changes in breathing: the nose is blocked, so the child is forced to breathe through the mouth.
- Snoring and sleep apnea: Children with vegetation snore when they sleep. In addition, depending on the case, they may have pauses in breathing (sleep apnea). This makes them sleep poorly and be restless and tired during the day.
- Difficulty swallowing. Not being able to sleep causes them to breathe with their mouths open, which, in turn, makes the throat dry and can hurt, also making it difficult to swallow food.
- Increased mucus.
- Increase in infections. With the consequent difficulty in draining them and allowing air to circulate normally, the increase in secretions can cause coughing and infections such as sinusitis, otitis, or pharyngitis.
- Nasal obstruction and difficulty breathing through it.
- dry mouth
- Bad breath on waking.
- Voice alterations.
- Pain in the ears, and even that they suppurate.
- Colds with mucus and cough.
- Repeated ear infections (otitis).
Medical tests for vegetations
Vegetations cannot be seen with a simple examination of the throat. The specialist must perform a physical examination to assess whether they have increased in size to diagnose them. A lateral x-ray of the pharynx can also see the size. In severe cases in which sleep apnea is associated, a study of this should be done to assess the intensity of the episodes.
What are the causes of vegetation?
Vegetations can appear naturally (normally during fetal development) or develop during the school period due to repeated infections in the respiratory tract (colds).
Some vegetations can be caused by the Streptococcus virus or by the Epstein-Barr virus, among others.
People in whom the vegetations have developed since the fetus will be more likely to suffer from symptoms from an early age, including more of the typical symptoms and more respiratory infections, and easy to catch a cold. Also, people with vegetation are more at risk of tonsillitis, headache, and sore throat.
Can it be prevented?
Vegetations cannot be prevented, but the consequences of the symptoms on the child can be avoided. Therefore, it is recommended to go to the specialist in Otorhinolaryngology when the child presents the first symptoms: difficulty breathing through the nose or snoring at night.
Treatments for vegetations
The specialist will first administer antibiotics to reduce the infection in the tonsils, adenoids, and paranasal sinuses. This will reduce mucus production and free the nasal passages, but not completely the inflammation.
However, the most recommended when all the other symptoms are associated is the surgical removal of the adenoids, usually together with the tonsils, to avoid possible complications.
It is a very brief intervention that lasts about 40-50 seconds. After that, the child will spend 45 minutes in the center and return to the clinic in a week to review with the specialist.
The operation should be performed at two years of age, but if the child has severe recurrent or seromucous otitis (with fluid inside the ear), the age at which it is performed is independent. If the child is less than nine months old, the specialist will study how to treat him, normally without surgery.
