Question
There is a child at home with adenoid hypertrophy, who has been experiencing occasional coughing during the day. At night, after about four hours of sleep, there is a continuous cough that lasts for about half an hour. Upon waking up in the morning, there are also a few coughs. Additionally, the child coughs after exercise or crying, but there is no wheezing. I would like to inquire whether adenoid hypertrophy can cause coughing?
Answer
Adenoid hypertrophy itself usually does not directly cause coughing, but if it is accompanied by bronchitis or other respiratory infections, it may lead to coughing symptoms. When adenoids become abnormally thickened and enlarged, they can block the upper respiratory tract, causing nasal congestion and mouth breathing, which may be more severe at night. In severe cases, it may lead to apnea, where the child temporarily stops breathing during sleep and even wakes up, requiring a change in sleeping position to continue sleeping, which can reduce sleep quality. Due to the narrow airways, it may lead to insufficient oxygen content in the blood, causing the brain to be in a chronic state of hypoxia, resulting in the child being listless during the day. Long-term nasal congestion and respiratory discomfort, as well as the discomfort from coughing, may affect lung and heart function. In severe cases, it may even trigger pulmonary heart disease and myocardial damage, or even right heart failure.