Question
My child has been diagnosed with adenoid hypertrophy since around the age of 5, and the doctor recommended surgery, but we have been insisting on conservative treatment. Recently, my child caught a cold, which caused otitis media, affecting hearing, and there is phlegm in the upper throat that cannot be coughed up. At night, the child is very uncomfortable, mostly breathing through the mouth. I want to ask if children with adenoid hypertrophy must undergo surgery?
Answer
Hello! Adenoid hypertrophy requires surgery under general anesthesia. If the tonsils are not hypertrophied and do not frequently inflame, there may be no need to remove them. It is essential to have a professional evaluation before surgery because some children have only had adenoid surgery, but in fact, their tonsils are congenitally hypertrophied, and the doctor may have overlooked this point. In such cases, even after adenoid surgery, there may still be snoring sounds postoperatively, leading to unsatisfactory results. Subsequently, another tonsil surgery may be required. This would mean more expenses for adults and more suffering for the child, causing a lot of distress. Regarding the surgical method, cryoablation surgery combines cutting, hemostasis, and aspiration functions and has a lower rate of postoperative bleeding. However, the surgical blade is expensive, and the cost is high. If your financial condition is average, you do not have to force it and can choose a standard surgical method instead, but you must choose a doctor with experience.