Consequences after removal of adenoids in children

Adenotomy, like any surgical intervention, can cause serious consequences. After adenoids, children most often experience the following problems:

• Reduced immunity – this consequence is temporary. With a full recovery period, the immune system returns to normal within 1-3 months.
• Snoring and runny nose are considered normal symptoms for 1-2 weeks after surgery. As soon as the swelling goes down, the snoring will go away. If the symptoms persist for a long period of time, you should consult an otolaryngologist.
• Secondary infections – their development is possible if a wound remains in the nasopharynx after surgery. Also, a weakened immune system leads to the development of infection.

In addition to the above-mentioned consequences, more serious problems are possible: aspiration of the respiratory tract, trauma to the palate, intense bleeding after surgery or during surgery.

Temperature after adenoid removal in children

Any surgical intervention is stress for the body. Therefore, temperature after adenoid removal in children is a normal reaction. As a rule, there is a slight hyperthermia from 37 to 38˚C. The temperature rises closer to the evening, but it is not recommended to bring it down with drugs that include aspirin. Such medications affect the structure of the blood, thinning it. Even one tablet can provoke severe bleeding.

To reduce temperature after adenotomy, the following medications are recommended:

• Ibuprofen is the safest antipyretic for children.
• Paracetamol – effectively reduces fever, but has a hepatotoxic effect.
• Metamizole is used to reduce elevated temperature and relieve pain.

If the elevated temperature persists for more than three days, you should immediately consult a doctor. In this case, hyperthermia may indicate the development of an infectious disease/complication.

Temperature after surgery may indicate problems not related to the respiratory tract: endocrine pathologies, infectious and viral diseases, inflammatory reactions. The unpleasant condition may be caused by childhood diseases such as scarlet fever or whooping cough.

Cough after adenoid removal in a child

The period after adenotomy is dangerous due to the development of various clinical symptoms. Cough after adenoid removal is primarily associated with the outflow of purulent fluid from the paranasal sinuses after the nasal passage is cleared. As a rule, coughing fits pass on their own within 10-14 days.

A prolonged postoperative cough may indicate a relapse, i.e. new growth of tonsils and swelling of surrounding tissues. To prevent this condition, you should consult an otolaryngologist for a thorough examination.

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Snoring after adenoid removal in a child

A symptom such as snoring in a child after adenotomy is a normal phenomenon. As a rule, it persists for 1-2 weeks. The unpleasant condition is associated with swelling of the nasopharynx and narrowing of the nasal passages due to surgical intervention. But if discomfort is observed for 3-4 weeks, then the baby should be shown to an otolaryngologist.

In some cases, secondary snoring occurs in children after surgery. Let's look at its causes:

• Tonsil enlargement (relapse).
• When you remain in a horizontal position for a long time, mucous secretions flow to the back wall of the larynx, causing snoring.
• Inflammatory processes during the recovery period.
• Allergic reactions.
• Nasal congestion and chronic nasopharyngeal pathologies.
• Anatomical features of the structure of organs: uneven nasal septum, suspended uvula, narrow airways.
• Violation of nasopharyngeal hygiene.

In addition to the above factors, snoring may be associated with the persistent habit of breathing through the mouth. This significantly disrupts the quality of sleep, negatively affects mental abilities and physical activity. In some cases, night snoring causes short-term pauses in breathing. If this condition persists for a long period of time, there is a risk of oxygen starvation of the brain and disruption of the functioning of the central nervous system.

Recommendations for preventing nighttime snoring in children:

• The last meal should consist of soft foods that do not irritate the mucous membrane of the larynx.
• Daily breathing exercises normalize nasal breathing and strengthen the walls of the larynx.
• Vasoconstrictor drops reduce swelling of the mucous membrane; antibiotic nasal sprays are also recommended.
• To disinfect the oral and nasal cavities, rinses with hypertonic solutions and herbal infusions are used.

In addition to the above recommendations, children should be protected from hypothermia, which can lead to colds and viral infections. It is also necessary to carry out wet cleaning more often and ventilate the children's room.

Runny nose after adenoid removal in a child

The most common symptoms of adenoids are a long-term runny nose and constant nasal congestion. With the growth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, these symptoms worsen. If conservative therapy is ineffective, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment.

Many parents mistakenly believe that a runny nose goes away after adenoid removal. But this is far from true, since mucous discharge can persist for 10 days, and this is normal. It should also be taken into account that a runny nose is directly related to postoperative swelling of the nasal cavity.

Poor mucus drainage from the paranasal sinuses may indicate a secondary infection. In this case, in addition to the runny nose, additional symptoms appear:

• Elevated body temperature.
• Bad breath.
• Green thick snot.
• General weakness.

If pathological symptoms persist for 2 weeks or more, this is a clear sign of a severe bacterial infection, a manifestation of a viral infection, or an exacerbation of a chronic disease that requires treatment.

The appearance of a runny nose after adenotomy may be associated with the following pathologies:

• Deformation of the nasal septum.
• Hypertrophic processes in the nasopharynx.
• Immunological reactivity of the body.
• Bronchopulmonary disorders.

In order to prevent mucous discharge from the nasal cavity from persisting for a long time in the postoperative period, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations. First of all, it is forbidden to abuse tablets with antiseptic and antibacterial substances that can thin the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and cause infection resistance. It is also not recommended to carry out steam inhalations with alkaline agents or use concentrated saline solutions to rinse the nose and throat.

Sore throat after adenoid removal in children

Removal of hypertrophied adenoid tissue of the pharyngeal tonsils can cause a number of painful symptoms in the postoperative period. Many parents face this problem when their child has a sore throat after adenotomy.

Discomfort may be associated with the following factors:

• Throat trauma during surgery.
• Infectious and inflammatory process.
• Relapse of chronic diseases of the oropharynx.
• Complications after anesthesia.

Sore throats can radiate to the ears and temples, and stiffness when moving the lower jaw is also often observed. As a rule, such a problem goes away within 1-2 weeks. To alleviate the painful condition, the doctor prescribes medicinal aerosols, inhalations and oral medications. If the pathological condition progresses or persists for a long period of time, then it is worth contacting an otolaryngologist.

After removing adenoids, the child has a headache

Another possible complication that occurs after adenoid removal in children is headaches and dizziness. The painful condition is temporary and most often occurs in the following cases:

• Adverse reaction to the anesthesia used.
• Reduction of arterial and intracranial pressure during surgery.
• Dehydration.

Discomfort appears on the first day after the operation and can persist for 2-3 days. Also, when waking up after anesthesia, slight dizziness is possible. Headaches are aching, bursting in nature and intensify with loud sounds, sharp turns of the head.

Treatment requires drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough rest. If the pain is excruciating, the doctor will prescribe safe painkillers.

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Vomiting after adenoid removal in children

One of the side effects of adenotomy is vomiting. After adenoid removal, it is a reaction to the anesthesia used and most often occurs with the following symptom complex:

• Attacks of nausea.
• Stomach ache.
• Deterioration of general well-being.

Sometimes there are traces of blood in the vomit, which disappear 20 minutes after the operation if the patient has normal blood clotting.

In addition to vomiting, children may have a fever. Hyperthermia with abdominal pain should not last more than 24 hours. If symptoms persist for a longer period of time, an urgent consultation with an otolaryngologist and pediatrician is indicated.

After removal of adenoids, the child's voice changed

Many doctors note that after adenoid removal, children's voices may change. Such changes are temporary and persist for the first few days after surgery. Some children's voices become nasal, hoarse, and may resemble a cartoon.

As nasal breathing recovers (about 10 days), the voice also normalizes. It becomes clear and sonorous. If pathological symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, then the baby should be shown to a doctor.

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The child has a nasal voice after adenoid removal

The postoperative period in surgical treatment of hypertrophied tissues of the pharyngeal tonsils is very often accompanied by changes in the voice. This symptom is caused by swelling of the nasopharynx and palate, and is temporary. But if after removal of the adenoids the nasal voice persists for a long period of time, this may indicate the development of a serious complication.

According to medical statistics, 5 out of 1000 patients have voice changes due to a pathology called velopharyngeal insufficiency. It manifests itself as a muffled nasal voice, slurred pronunciation of words, especially consonants.

This complication develops because the soft palate does not completely close the nasal passages. When talking, air enters the nasal cavity, the sound resonates and becomes nasal. Breathing exercises and a set of physiotherapy procedures are used for treatment. In particularly severe cases, soft palate surgery is possible.

Nervous tic in a child after adenoid removal

As a rule, nervous tics in a child after adenotomy are associated with the following factors:

• Psycho-emotional trauma.
• Complications of general anesthesia.
• Severe postoperative pain.
• Trauma to nerve tissue during surgery.

Complications may arise due to adenoid removal under local anesthesia. In this case, the nervous tic is associated with the fright of the little patient who observed all surgical manipulations.

Another possible cause of the disorder is that the movements the patient made have become fixed in the form of a tic. Due to impaired nasal breathing, a runny nose or a sore throat, children often swallow saliva, strongly straining the muscles of the neck and throat. After the operation, swallowing manifests itself as tics and persists for a certain period of time.

If the disorder persists for a long period of time, you should consult a pediatrician. In particularly severe cases, a neurologist's consultation is necessary. Anticonvulsants and psychotropic drugs may be prescribed for treatment.