Why do tonsils grow?

Tonsillar hyperplasia is the enlargement of the adenoids. When the child is young, this symptom is mostly physiological. As the child grows older, it reaches its maximum extent at the age of 6 and then slowly degenerates. If this process affects health or surrounding organs, it is pathological adenoids hypertrophy and requires treatment. So, why do tonsils grow? Let’s take a closer look below.

Causes

Children are prone to acute rhinitis, acute tonsillitis, and influenza. If the symptoms recur, the adenoids may rapidly proliferate and hypertrophy, aggravating nasal obstruction and obstructing nasal drainage. The secretions from rhinitis and sinusitis will stimulate the adenoids to continue to proliferate, forming a vicious cycle of cause and effect. It is more common in children and often coexists with chronic tonsillitis.

Clinical manifestations: Local symptoms in children may develop ear, nose and pharyngeal symptoms due to blockage of the posterior nasal cavity and the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube by enlarged adenoids. Symptoms include open-mouth breathing during sleep, snoring with the tongue root falling back, restless sleep at night, excessive nasal secretions, occlusive nasal sounds when speaking, and slurred speech. Due to long-term mouth breathing, the facial bones are developed abnormally, the maxillary bone becomes longer, the hard palate is high and arched, the dentition is irregular, the upper incisors are exposed, the lips are thick, the face lacks expression, there are signs of dementia, and an "adenoid face" is formed. There is ataxia between swallowing and breathing, and choking and coughing often occur. The secretions flowing down irritate the respiratory mucosa, making it easy to get tracheitis. Obstruction of the Eustachian tube can easily cause non-suppurative otitis media, leading to hearing loss and retraction of the tympanic membrane. Systemic symptoms often include systemic nutritional and developmental disorders, mainly manifested as reflex neurological symptoms of chronic poisoning, such as dull expression, chest tightness and restlessness, poor lung expansion, which may lead to pigeon chest or flat chest over time. A few people develop cor pulmonale or even acute heart failure due to chronic nasal obstruction and long-term hypoxia. Examination revealed an adenoid face, a high and narrow hard palate, and retronasal endoscopy revealed pink, lobed lymphoid tissue masses on the roof of the nasopharynx. A soft mass could be felt on palpation of the nasopharynx. If necessary, a lateral nasopharyngeal X-ray may be performed to aid diagnosis.

Note that snoring caused by enlarged adenoids in children is often ignored by parents. It is often the cause of snoring together with enlarged tonsils. Special attention should be paid to whether there is sleep apnea and go to the hospital to check the adenoids if necessary. Children's adenoids can be examined indirectly under nasopharyngeal endoscopy. More advanced fiber laryngoscopes or electronic laryngoscopes and nasal endoscopes can also conveniently examine the adenoids. Treatment : Surgery to remove the adenoids can be done at the same time as tonsillectomy or separately. Those who are not suitable for surgery can consider radiotherapy (but it is rarely used). In recent years, some people believe that plasma therapy can be used to treat adenoid hypertrophy. The method is simple and causes minimal pain.

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