Question
A friend’s child developed pediatric adenoid hypertrophy at the age of 4. After a long time of treatment, the results were not very good. What is adenoid hypertrophy?
Answer
Adenoid hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of the pharyngeal tonsils. Adenoid hypertrophy in children is often physiological, with lymphatic tissue present in the nasopharynx at birth, which increases in size with age, reaching its maximum extent at 6 years old and then gradually regresses. It is only considered hypertrophy when it affects overall health or nearby organs. Due to the obstruction of the posterior nasal cavity and the pharyngotympanic tube orifice by the adenoid hypertrophy, children may experience symptoms such as ear, nose, and throat issues. Symptoms include mouth breathing during sleep, tongue root drooping with snoring sounds, restless sleep at night, excessive nasal secretions, muffled voice when speaking, and unclear speech. Long-term mouth breathing can lead to facial bone development disorders, such as elongated maxilla, high palate, irregular teeth arrangement, prominent upper incisors, thick lips, lack of facial expression, and a dazed appearance, forming what is known as the “adenoid face.”