Question
A child is 3 years and 8 months old and has adenoid hypertrophy. What are the traditional Chinese medicine treatments available for adenoid hypertrophy?
Answer
In the treatment of adenoid hypertrophy, traditional Chinese medicine is often used as an adjunctive therapy. It primarily aims to alleviate symptoms caused by adenoid hypertrophy, but its effectiveness in reducing the size of the adenoids is limited. Due to the need for extreme caution when using traditional Chinese medicine in children, this treatment method is not commonly used in pediatric cases. The main treatment for adenoid hypertrophy is typically surgical removal, which is currently the most effective treatment option. Surgery not only addresses the issue of adenoid hypertrophy comprehensively but also prevents other complications caused by adenoid hypertrophy, such as recurrent sinusitis, decreased hearing, and otitis media. Although adenoids naturally shrink after the age of 10 in children, in some cases where severe respiratory obstruction or sleep apnea due to adenoid hypertrophy occurs, surgical treatment is necessary. Surgery can effectively resolve these issues and minimize adverse effects on the child’s appearance, physique, and intellectual development.