Category: Pediatric

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Ailmemts & Remedies Pediatric

Biliary Atresia

DEfinition:
Biliary atresia is a rare condition in newborn infants in which the common bile duct(that carry a liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder) between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent. If unrecognized, the condition leads to liver failure — but not kernicterus, as the liver is still able to conjugate bilirubin, and conjugated bilirubin is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. The cause of the condition is unknown. The only effective treatments are certain surgeries such as the kasai procedure, or liver transplantation.

.….You may click to see the picture

Biliary atresia is a very rare disorder. About one in 10,000 to 20,000 babies in the U.S are affected every year. Biliary atresia seems to affect girls slightly more often than boys. Within the same family, it is common for only one child in a pair of twins or only one child within the same family to have it. Asians and African-Americans are affected more frequently than Caucasians. There does not appear to be any link to medications or immunizations given immediately before or during pregnancy.

This is now effective surgery which can relieve symptoms in most cases. Liver transplant is also an option, and as a result, survival rates are now above 90 per cent.

Causes & b Risk Factors:
Biliary atresia is due to a progressive fibrosis or scarring of the bile ducts responsible for draining bile from the liver, which eventually leads to atresia or loss of the biliary system. It’s not clear how or why this occurs, and many factors may be involved. It may be due to a problem in the developing embryo (10 to 20 per cent – other congenital abnormalities may also be present) or around the time of birth or shortly afterwards (80 to 90 per cent). It occurs more often in Asian and African-American newborns than Caucasian.

Bile is made by the liver and helps with the digestion of fats. If bile is not removed from the liver, it builds up and begins to damage it. The baby will then develop jaundice, or a yellow colour of the skin as levels of the bile chemical bilirubin rise in the blood. Other symptoms include dark coloured urine and pale stools. Many newborn babies become jaundiced but this is usually temporary. Jaundice lasting for longer than 14 days, especially if there are other symptoms such as an enlarged liver or failure to thrive, is a worrying sign and must be investigated further.

Pathophysiology:
There is no known cause of biliary atresia. There have been many theories about ethiopathogenesis such as Reovirus 3 infection, congenital malformation, congenital CMV infection, autoimmune theory. This means that the etiology and pathogenesis of biliary atresia are largely unknown. However, there have been extensive studies about the pathogenesis and proper management of progressive liver fibrosis, which is arguably one of the most important aspects of biliary atresia patients. As the biliary tract cannot transport bile to the intestine, bile is retained in the liver (known as stasis) and results in cirrhosis of the liver. Proliferation of the small bile ductules occur, and peribiliary fibroblasts become activated. These “reactive” biliary epithelial cells in cholestasis, unlike normal condition, produce and secrete various cytokines such as CCL-2 or MCP-1, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), TGF-beta, Endothelin (ET), and nitric oxide (NO). Among these, TGF-beta is the most important profibrogenic cytokine that can be seen in liver fibrosis in chronic cholestasis. During the chronic activation of biliary epithelium and progressive fibrosis, afflicted patients eventually show signs and symptoms of portal hypertension (esophagogastric varix bleeding, hypersplenism, hepatorenal syndrome(HRS), hepatopulmonary syndrome(HPS)). The latter two syndromes are essentially caused by systemic mediators that maintain the body within the hyperdynamic states. There are three main types of extrahepatic biliary atresia:- Type I: atresia restricted to the common bile duct. Type II: atresia of the common hepatic duct. Type III: atresia of the right and left hepatic duct. Associated anomalies include, in about 20% cases, cardiac lesions, polysplenia, situs inversus, absent vena cava and a preduodenal portal vein.

Symptoms:
Newborns with this condition may appear normal at birth. However, jaundice (a yellow color to the skin and mucous membranes) develops by the second or third week of life. The infant may gain weight normally for the first month, but then will lose weight and become irritable, and have worsening jaundice.

Other symptoms may include:

•Dark urine
•Enlarged spleen
•Floating stools
•Foul-smelling stools
•Pale or clay-colored stools
•Slow growth
•Slow or no weight gain

Diagnosis:
The health care provider will perform a physical exam, which includes feeling the patient’s belly area. The doctor may feel an enlarged liver.

Tests to diagnose biliary atresia include:

•Abdominal x-ray
•Abdominal ultrasound to examine the liver and bile ducts
•A blood test to look for raised levels of bilirubin and check liver enzyme levels and blood clotting
•Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan, also called cholescintigraphy, to help determine whether the bile ducts and gallbladder are working properly
•Liver biopsy to determine the severity of cirrhosis or to rule out other causes of jaundice
•An abdominal x-ray to look for an enlarged liver and spleen
•X-ray of the bile ducts (cholangiogram)
•An scan to determine how well bile is flowing (HIDA or TEBIDA)

Treatment :
TreatmentIf the intrahepatic biliary tree is unaffected, surgical reconstruction of the extrahepatic biliary tract is possible. This surgery is called a Kasai procedure (after the Japanese surgeon who developed the surgery, Dr. Morio Kasai) or hepatoportoenterostomy.

....

If the atresia is complete, liver transplantation is the only option(currently has a greater than 95 per cent survival rate at one year). Timely Kasai portoenterostomy (e.g. < 60 postnatal days) has shown better outcomes. Nevertheless, a considerable number of the patients, even if Kasai portoenterostomy has been successful, eventually undergo liver transplantation within a couple of years after Kasai portoenterostomy.

Recent large volume studies from Davenport et al. (Ann Surg, 2008) show that age of the patient is not an absolute clinical factor affecting the prognosis. In the latter study, influence of age differs according to the disease etiology—i.e., whether isolated BA, BASM (BA with splenic malformation ), or CBA(cystic biliary atresia).

It is widely accepted that corticosteroid treatment after a Kasai operation, with or without choleretics and antibiotics, has a beneficial effect on the postoperative bile flow and can clear the jaundice; but the dosing and duration of the ideal steroid protocol have been controversial (“blast dose” vs. “high dose” vs. “low dose”). Furthermore, it has been observed in many retrospective longitudinal studies that steroid does not prolong survival of the native liver or transplant-free survival. Davenport at al. also showed (hepatology 2007) that short-term low-dose steroid therapy following a Kasai operation has no effect on the mid- and long-term prognosis of biliary atresia patients.

Prognosis:
Early surgery will improve the survival of more than a third of babies with this condition. The long-term benefit of liver transplant is not yet known, but is expected to improve survival.

Possible Complications:
•Infection
•Irreversible cirrhosis
•Liver failure
•Surgical complications, including failure of the Kasai procedure

Prevention:
The earlier biliary atresia is detected, the less damage it will have done to the liver and the better the chance of a successful outcome to treatment. The current target is to treat babies before they are eight weeks old.

If the liver has not yet been damaged by cirrhosis, the condition is usually treated through an operation called a Kasai portoenterostomy (or a similar procedure). This involves using a loop of bowel to form a duct to drain the bile from the liver. The operation is named after the Japanese surgeon, Professor Morio Kasai, who developed it in 1959. It was first introduced in the UK in the 1960s.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/biliary_atresia.shtml
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001145.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biliary_atresia

http://www.mikylah.com/pictures.html

http://www.chw.health.nsw.gov.au/parents/factsheets/biliary_atresia.htm

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Ailmemts & Remedies Pediatric

Babies Eye Sight

Vision in a baby’s first few months
To start with, they can see a toy or face in front of them but anything much further away is a blur. Slowly, the distance that they can see clearly increases, until by about six months they can see across a room.

CLICK & SEE

Many tiny babies also have a squint (their eyes look in different directions), which usually gets better within a few months.

Faces are a good test
Most babies can recognise their parents by about two weeks and start to smile at about six weeks. In these early days, most babies are particularly fascinated by faces and will focus on one in front of them – following it with their gaze (they prefer familiar faces).

This gives you a chance to test your baby’s sight from the age of six weeks.

•Sit your baby on the lap of someone they’re comfortable with
•Crouch down so your face becomes level with your baby’s face and about an arm’s length away from them
•Your baby should fix his or her eyes on your face (rather than looking everywhere else)
•Keep looking at your baby but move your head around from one side to another
•Your baby should keep his or her eyes fixed on your gaze
Alternatively, use a toy moved in front of your baby. They should be able to follow a brightly coloured moving toy held about 20cm (8in) away from them by about six weeks.

It can be difficult to be certain
Small babies are easily distracted and it can be very difficult to test their sight with certainty, so any worries you have are best checked by a professional.

Small babies can seem to take longer than normal for their brain to register what their eyes are seeing, even though there’s no problem with their vision. This is more likely in premature babies. After a matter of weeks, their visual sense suddenly kicks in and the problem’s resolved.

Serious visual problems are rare at this age, especially if his eyes appear normal, but occasionally they do occur.

A parent’s instincts should never be ignored. If you’re worried, talk to your doctor.

You may click to see to learn more :

How a Baby’s Vision and Eyesight Develops

Vision Development in Babies

Developmental milestones: Sight

Source : BBC Health.

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Failure to Thrive

Alternative Names: Growth failure; FTT (Faltering Growth)

Definition:
Failure to thrive is a description applied to babies or children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of others of similar age and sex.

….…….CLICK & SEE

From the moment they’re born, a baby’s weight and height are closely monitored. Health visitors provide health record booklets that include growth charts to help with this…..CLICK & SEE

In general, failure-to-thrive means that a child:
Is at or below the 3rd to 5th percentile for height and weight, or
Has failed to grow as expected, as shown by dropping two growth percentiles (For example, the child goes from the 75th percentile to below the 25th percentile.)

Failure to thrive may be caused by a variety of factors. Some children who fit this category appear lethargic, pale and miserable, while others seem fairly well.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
In the Deloped countries where chronic disease in childhood isn’t common, failure to thrive in infants may be a result of poor feeding techniques.

In older children, unhappy home circumstances and emotional problems are often to blame.

Infants or children that fail to thrive seem to be dramatically smaller or shorter than other children the same age. Teenagers may have short stature or appear to lack the usual changes that occur at puberty. However, there is a wide variation in normal growth and development.

In general, the rate of change in weight and height may be more important than the actual measurements.

It is important to determine whether failure to thrive results from medical problems or factors in the environment, such as abuse or neglect.

There are multiple medical causes of failure to thrive. These include:

*Chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome and Turner syndrome

*Defects in major organ systems

*Problems with the endocrine system, such as thyroid hormone deficiency, growth hormone deficiency, or other hormone deficiencies

*Damage to the brain or central nervous system, which may cause feeding difficulties in an infant

*Heart or lung problems, which can affect how oxygen and nutrients move through the body

*Anemia or other blood disorders

*Gastrointestinal problems that result in malabsorption or a lack of digestive enzymes

*Long-term gastroenteritis and gastroesophageal reflux (usually temporary)
Cerebral palsy

*Long-term (chronic) infections

*Metabolic disorders

*Complications of pregnancy and low birth weight

Other factors that may lead to failure to thrive:

*Emotional deprivation as a result of parental withdrawal, rejection, or hostility

*Economic problems that affect nutrition, living conditions, and parental attitudes

*Exposure to infections, parasites, or toxins

*Poor eating habits, such as eating in front of the television and not having formal meal times

Some Other Causes:

*Problems with milk feeds
Breastmilk is the best choice for newborns and babies should thrive on it. But some new mothers and their babies struggle to latch on and get a good technique going. Health visitors can offer advice on this and appropriate formula feeds, if necessary.

If you’re formula feeding but your baby isn’t growing as they should, check you’re following the manufacturer’s instructions for making up the feed exactly (not too dilute) and that your baby is able to get the milk as fast as they need to (check the teat size).

*Dietary problems
Children may be unable to absorb food into their bodies because of problems with their gut, such as parasitic infections, malabsorption, liver disease or milk sensitivity (usually temporary).

Coeliac disease, which causes diarrhoea with foul-smelling faeces and anaemia, is another explanation for failure to thrive. It’s caused by a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat and similar proteins in other grains.

*Genetic causes
There are many different inherited conditions that can mean a child fails to thrive, such as chromosomal problems.

The most common of all genetic factors isn’t an illness but simply the fact that the parents are also small, so it’s normal for that family. This is sometimes known as constitutional short stature and, of course, no treatment is needed.

What’s important is that the child is growing at a steady rate, following a line on the growth charts parallel to the average child, even if continually smaller than average.

*Problems in the womb
Some children born with a low weight as a result of some factor during pregnancy will continue to have problems catching up. This is more likely if the growth retardation happened early in the pregnancy.

If the mother has high blood pressure, smokes, drinks alcohol or takes certain medications it can affect her baby’s growth in the womb. Maternal infections, such as rubella and toxoplasmosis, can also result in low birth weight.

*Chronic or repeated illness
Any illness in a child temporarily slows growth. While many catch up, repeated illness, even coughs and colds, can affect growth in the long term.

Serious illness is more likely to affect growth, from chronic infections such as TB to major heart abnormalities, deficiencies of hormones such as thyroid or growth hormone, lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, and kidney disease.

*Psychological problems
Sometimes there’s no apparent physical explanation for why a child is failing to thrive until home circumstances are carefully probed.

Social deprivation, especially if a child’s emotional needs are being neglected, can lead to growth problems even in the first few months of life.

Many times the cause cannot be determined.

Symptoms:-
Infants or children who fail to thrive have a height, weight, and head circumference that do not match standard growth charts. The person’s weight falls lower than 3rd percentile (as outlined in standard growth charts) or 20% below the ideal weight for their height. Growing may have slowed or stopped after a previously established growth curve.

The following are delayed or slow to develop:

*Physical skills such as rolling over, sitting, standing and walking

*Mental and social skills

*Secondary sexual characteristics (delayed in adolescents)

Signs and tests:-
The doctor will perform a physical exam and check the child’s height, weight, and body shape. A detailed history is taken, including prenatal, birth, neonatal, psychosocial, and family information.

A Denver Developmental Screening Test reveals delayed development. A growth chart outlining all types of growth since birth is created.

The following laboratory tests may be done:

*Complete blood count (CBC)

*Electrolyte balance

*Hemoglobin electrophoresis to determine the presence of conditions such as sickle cell disease

*Hormone studies, including thyroid function tests

*X-rays to determine bone age

*Urinalysis

Treatment:
The treatment depends on the cause of the delayed growth and development. Delayed growth due to nutritional factors can be resolved by educating the parents to provide a well-balanced diet.

If psychosocial factors are involved, treatment should include improving the family dynamics and living conditions. Parental attitudes and behavior may contribute to a child’s problems and need to be examined. In many cases, a child may need to be hospitalized initially to focus on implementation of a comprehensive medical, behavioral, and psychosocial treatment plan.

Do not give your child dietary supplements like Boost or Ensure without consulting your physician first.

Prognosis:
If the period of failure to thrive has been short, and the cause is determined and can be corrected, normal growth and development will resume. If failure to thrive is prolonged, the effects may be long lasting, and normal growth and development may not be achieved.

Complications:
Permanent mental, emotional, or physical delays can occur.

Prevention:
The best means of prevention is by early detection at routine well-baby examinations and periodic follow-up with school-age and adolescent children.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/babies2.shtml
http://healthtools.aarp.org/adamcontent/failure-to-thrive/2
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/camfak_syndrome/book-diseases-4a.htm

http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=11872

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Babies Crying

Introduction:
It is a commonplace experience for all parents to observe their babies crying endlessly. Everyone knows that when babies feel discomfort or any kind of pain they resort to crying to convey their message.Crying is the most effective way babies have of communicating their needs.

…CLICK & SEE

In fact crying is a natural phenomenon for babies and the first few months of life almost all babies cry to prove their needs as they lack the skill of language.Most babies spend as much as seven per cent of the day crying.

It can take parents some time to learn to recognise what a baby’s cries mean. But by about four to six months most are able to differentiate between a cry of pain from a grizzle of hunger or a whine of boredom.

Most tiny babies have episodes of crying, which is often a sign of discomfort such as colic, but the cause often isn’t proven. Even by the age of nine months, one in four babies has episodes of crying for no obvious cause.

But sometimes when the child cries in a chronic fashion this can prove to be a worrying factor for the parents. It is imperative for one to know why babies cry without pause sometimes or what can be done to stop that incident. When babies cry endlessly one needs to first check out the obvious reasons that is if the child is wet or hungry. Often colic is thought to be another probable reason for babies crying endlessly.

How to Differentiate?
As a matter of fact, babies cry for almost 7% of the time of a day. The parents of a baby can usually take some time to make out the meanings of the baby’s crying. It is more so with a newborn. But as the child grows up, things get easier. When the kid is about six months old, the parents can clearly distinguish between a cry of hunger and a cry of pain or irritation. Babies crying endlessly, which can be considered excessive crying, sounds different from normal cry. There are some babies, who whine even when they are 9 month’s old for no specific reason.

In fact on careful listening one can distinguish between a child crying normally and the endless crying of a distressed baby. Such crying often has an unusual sound and the baby finds it tough to breathe or breathe in short grasps. An experienced ear may easily demarcate between both the sounds and decide if the child needs medical intervention.

Reasons  of  Crying:
Babies can not talk like the grown up human beings as they lack the skill of language. Therefore crying is only natural for them to communicate their requirements and problems. It might indicate the child is suffering from a physical problem or feeling distressed. In these cases, the breathing pattern may become uneven and the child may gasp for breath at times. Medical problems and minor hassles like a nappy rash may also cause excessive crying.

Some babies may also resort to crying to draw attention and if the parents respond they develop a habit. In some cases, turmoil in the family can cause stress to a child and he or she can cry profusely. Also, in most households, the babies are accustomed to a particular schedule of feeding and sleeping. If it is disrupted for some reasons the babies can cry for prolonged periods

When the teeth starts growing in babies they have to go through a number of symptoms like moderate fever, sleep disorders and these can make the babies crying endlessly during the period. Sometimes, chemicals and toxic elements can pass through the mother’s body to the child during breastfeeding. This can happen when the mother eats a food that has chemicals.

It can cause irritations in the baby’s body and he or she might start crying profusely. A parent should also be careful when a baby is continuously crying and treat him or her for ailments such as otitis media or infection of the middle ear. Meninigities of gastro enteritities are other causes which can cause a baby to cry continuously.

Causes Behind the Cry:
It’s important to be alert for medical problems, especially infections such as otitis media (infection of the middle ear), gastroenteritis, meningitis or a respiratory tract infection, as well as problems ranging from severe nappy rash to rarer conditions such as intussusception or a strangulated hernia.

If you’re worried, especially if there are abnormal signs such as a skin rash or a fever, get medical advice.

Inconsolable crying is often put down to colic, but there’s no definite test for it. It tends to affect babies for the first three to four months. They may show signs of tummy pain, such as pulling their legs up to their abdomen, while others pass a lot of wind.

Ask your health visitor for advice on your baby’s diet and your own if you’re breastfeeding. Some foods, such as cow’s milk, citrus fruits or grapes, seem to aggravate colic. When the mother eats these, chemicals from the food may pass into her breast milk and reach the baby.

Signs of teething include crying, alongside gnawing, mild fever, sleep problems and mild diarrhoea. The first tooth usually appears at about four months.

Often though, the cause is more benign. Some babies are sensitive to tensions within the family or to changes in routine. Others just need a lot of attention or company. Some babies just seem to cry for no obvious reason.

Possible explanations include birth trauma, an attempt to release stress, liking the sound of their voice and simply a baby’s personality.

How to solve the problem :
Parents need to eliminate all the probable causes that can make Babies crying endlessly. They need to see if the baby is feeling the pangs of hunger. They also need to check out if the baby’s nappy has become cold or wet. Babies love a warm and snugly feel around them. Their clothing should not make them feel too hot or cold. Some babies prefer company of people and some others prefer to be alone.

The parents should try to make out what suits their child the best. Besides, music is something that affects different babies differently. While some babies have a penchant for music, others detest it strongly. The parents need to keep the child in a suitable environment. If none of the aforesaid policies work, the parents of a whining baby may consult a child specialist and follow his advices.

Small babies need to be snugly wrapped in clothes in a moderately warm environment. In their cot, they need thin layers they can kick off if hot. Babies don’t need to wear a hat indoors. Babies don’t need to wear a hat indoors.

Some babies find it hard to settle into a routine, while others can’t get themselves off to sleep easily. It takes babies around 12 weeks for brainwave patterns to develop a regular routine.

Some babies just need to be left in a safe spot in a quiet, dark, warm room, while others want to be held, massaged and stroked. Some like silence, while others prefer a tape of music.

Some infants just like to be held constantly. Try carrying them round on your back or front held secure in a cloth or sling.

A regular routine of bath, feed and song seems to be most successful.

When there’s no answer:
If all possible causes can be ruled out and you’re desperate for a rest, put your baby somewhere warm and safe, such as in their cot, and close the door. Go into another room and listen to music or the TV, or practise stretching and breathing exercises.

It’s difficult not to get anxious, and you may want to listen at their door or peep in after a few minutes – try to leave longer and longer breaks between each check.

Some babies will suddenly stop crying endlessly as mysteriously as they started, while others take months, or even years, to grow out of it.

Make sure you get plenty of breaks and rest. Find help wherever you can and take up any offer of help from family or reliable friends.

If you find you’re still struggling, talk to your GP or health visitor. Ask for help before you reach crisis point.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/crying2.shtml
http://www.ayushveda.com/healthcare/babies-crying-endlessly.htm
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/baby_crying_closeup.jpg

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Adenoids

Alternative Names: :lymph glands or lymph nodes,pharyngeal tonsil, or nasopharyngeal tonsil

Definition:
Adenoids are masses of tissue located high on the posterior wall of the pharynx. They are made up of lymphatic tissue, which trap and destroy pathogens in the air that enter the nasopharynx.

click to see the picture

The adenoids help protect kids from getting sick. They sit high on each side of the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth. Although you can easily see your tonsils by standing in front of a mirror and opening your mouth wide, you can’t see your adenoids this way. A doctor has to use a small mirror or a special scope to get a peek at your adenoids.

click to see the picture

Like tonsils, adenoids help keep your body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that you breathe in or swallow. Adenoids also contain cells that make antibodies to help your body fight infections. Adenoids do important work as infection fighters for babies and little kids. But they become less important once a kid gets older and the body develops other ways to fight germs.

click to see the picture

Some doctors believe that adenoids may not be important at all after kids reach their third birthday. In fact, adenoids usually shrink after about age 5, and by the teenage years they often practically disappear
Enlarged adenoids refers to swollen lymphatic tissue. The tissue is similar to the tonsils, but found higher up above the throat.

Pathology:
Enlarged adenoids, or adenoid hypertrophy, can become nearly the size of a ping pong ball and completely block airflow through the nasal passages.

Even if enlarged adenoids are not substantial enough to physically block the back of the nose, they can obstruct airflow enough so that breathing through the nose requires an uncomfortable amount of work, and inhalation occurs instead through an open mouth.

Adenoids can also obstruct the nasal airway enough to affect the voice without actually stopping nasal airflow altogether.

Adenoid facies:
Enlargement of adenoids, especially in children, causes an atypical appearance of the face, often referred to as adenoid facies.
click to see the picture
George Catlin, in his humorous and instructive book Breath of Life, published in 1861, illustrates adenoid faces in many engravings and advocates nose-breathing.

Causes of enlargement :
A child may be born with large adenoids, which have developed in the womb.

More commonly, the adenoids become enlarged during the first few years of childhood. Repeated infections of the upper respiratory system cause the adenoids to become chronically inflamed and enlarged. The tonsils are also usually enlarged.

Symptoms:

Swollen or enlarged adenoids are common. When this happens, the tonsils get swollen, too. Swollen or infected adenoids can make it tough for a kid to breathe and cause these problems:
*Bad breath
*Cracked lips
*Dry mouth
*Mouth breathing (mostly at night)
*Mouth open during day (more severe obstruction)
*Persistent runny nose or nasal congestion
*Restlessness while sleeping
*Snoring
*Ear infections (because the drainage tubes from the middle ear may be blocked)
*Disruption of sleep can interfere with a child’s growth.
*Enlarged adenoids can put excessive strain on the heart.

Diagnosis :
The adenoids cannot be seen by looking in the mouth directly, but can be seen with a special mirror or using a flexible endoscope through the nose.

Tests may include:
•X-ray (side view of the throat)
•Sleep apnea studies (severe cases only)

Treatment:
Antibiotics may be used to treat the adenoids when they’re infected but may not have much effect on chronically enlarged adenoids.

Surgery to remove the adenoids (adenoidectomy) may relieve symptoms or prevent complications in those with frequent ear or sinus infections or fluid behind the ears. It may also be done when ear tubes have not successfully reduced infections. It is done to prevent the long-term complications of airways obstruction, such as heart failure. Surgery may lead to improved growth and development because deep sleep is restored

Prognosis: Full recovery is expected.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.


Resources:
http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/adenoids.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/adenoids2.shtml
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001649.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19259.htm
http://health.allrefer.com/health/adenoid-removal-adenoid-removal-series-2.html
http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/adenoids.html#
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharyngeal_tonsil

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