Adenoiditis Definition, Reason, Symptom, Treatment, Prevention
Definition
Adenoiditis is inflammation of the adenoid gland caused by infection. Adenoids themselves are a group of lymphatic glands located behind the nose.
This gland functions to fight bacterial and viral infections that enter the body through the nose and mouth, just like the tonsils ( tonsils ).
Adenoids store white blood cells and antibodies that help destroy possible causes of infection that threaten your health.
If these glands do not function properly, inflammation can occur and adenoiditis can develop.
The tonsils can be easily seen if you open your mouth, but not the adenoids. Doctors need to use special tools to see the adenoids. In fact, an x-ray examination can be done to see it clearly.
Adenoiditis is a fairly common disease. However, it is more commonly found in children than adults.
This is because the adenoid glands in children will change in size and become very small when they are adults.
Adenoiditis
| Medical specialist | ENT-KL . Specialist |
| Symptoms | Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing through the nose, snoring |
| Risk factors | Recurrent infections of the throat and neck, tonsillitis, allergies |
| Cara diagnosis | Medical interview, physical examination, x-ray, blood test, throat swab |
| Treatment | Antibiotics, nasal spray, surgery |
| Drug | Antibiotics, paracetamol, corticosteroids |
| Complications | Middle ear infection, glue ear, sinusitis, pneumonia |
| When should you go to the doctor? | If you have symptoms of adenoiditis |
Reason
Adenoiditis can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The most common bacterial cause of adenoiditis is Streptococcus.
Meanwhile, the viruses that cause adenoiditis are the Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus.
Risk Factor
Certain risk factors can make you susceptible to infections of the adenoid tissue. The following are risk factors for adenoiditis:
- Recurrent infections of the neck, throat, or head
- Tonsillitis (tonsillitis)
- Have allergies
- Contact with viruses, germs, and bacteria in the air
Symptoms
Inflamed and enlarged adenoids can block the airways. The symptoms that can appear are as follows:
- Sore and dry throat
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Snoring while sleeping
- Difficult to swallow
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
- Ear disorders
- Dry mouth
- Dry lips
- Symptoms of infection, such as fever and runny nose
- Difficulty sleeping and sleep apnea
Diagnosis
To diagnose adenoiditis, an ENT-KL specialist will conduct a medical interview first. At this stage the doctor will ask the patient’s complaints.
Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination to see the adenoids. Because the location of this gland is difficult to reach, the doctor will use a special tool that has a mirror or endoscope with a light.
This procedure may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend supporting examinations to confirm the diagnosis, such as:
- X-ray examination to see how big the adenoid is
- Blood tests to look for signs of inflammation
- Throat examination using a swab to obtain samples of bacteria and other organisms
Treatment
How to treat and treat adenoid disease will depend on the cause and how severe the patient’s condition is.
If it is still mild, the doctor will prescribe a nasal spray to help heal. If the cause is bacteria, antibiotics are needed.
Other drugs, such as corticosteroids, may also be given to help reduce the size of the enlarged adenoid gland.
Additional drugs according to complaints that arise can also be given. For example, if there are complaints of fever, the doctor will also prescribe fever medicine, such as paracetamol.
If medication and other things don’t help, an operation called an adenoidectomy may be performed to remove the enlarged adenoid gland.
Prevention
There are several things you can do to prevent adenoiditis, namely:
- Consumption of nutritious food and adequate fluid needs
- Enough sleep
- Keep yourself and your surroundings clean
You can also add other things that can be done to support a healthy lifestyle to prevent adenoiditis.
Complications
If left untreated and not properly treated, there are several complications of adenoiditis that can appear, namely:
- Middle ear infection
- Glue ear or mucus buildup in the middle ear that can affect hearing
- Sinusitis
- Infections of the lungs, such as pneumonia or bronchitis
When to go to the doctor?
The symptoms that appear in adenoiditis of course will be very disturbing to the sufferer.
If you feel the symptoms mentioned above, immediately consult a doctor.