ADENOIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 13

ADENOIDS.

"(By PEFJTUS.) '■"-

V'SYJfIPTOMS and effects;

. Thai symptoms of adenoids in infants thbse of obstruction. There isi-4difficulty: in,-- breathing, sometimes convulsions,-spasmodic l croup and vomit;lng. In older-children, there' is inflammation; at.vthe, pack-,of the ;throat, and more ,or. less discharge. If. the back of the tfiroat is ; deeply recessed/ there may be quite a large amount of swelling without impeding the breathing. If it. is impeded, the patient- sleeps with open mouth,: bolts his food (or is very slow in. eating), has a" mouth commonly dry and a peculiar "dead", voice. In all cases there is a variable degree of anaemia. The consequent lassitude leads to a lounging habit, and thence to flatfoot, and thence again to spinal curvature (Merrall). There, is often defect in the arching of the roof of the mouth, and the teeth are crowded into irregular posir tions. The commonest consequence of adenoids is deafness, more than half affected children nave .this trouble. There may be an obstinate cough, and a variety of defects" in the nose, beside a number of the commoner nervous symptoms. Catarrh and jaundice are not unusual, and '■: the former is nearly always observed. The facial expression of the adenoidal child is often unintelligent. With all this in mind there should be no hesitation in taking the advice of an experienced surgeon, who has a reputation for thoroughness. An incomplete removal of adenoids leads to -the • belief that- they had "returned." They will not return if proper attention is given to the important : exercises, which, should follow the operation. The. little patient is first taught how to breathe through the nose with the,, .mouth closed, %to breathe slowly, deeply and easily.. This must be ddn£ ten or fifteen times, morning and evening, and then, at a later date, nt must-be done whilst the patient is skipping■quickly 5 and .vigorously. At night ari elastic .chin .strap must be worn if the'chiiais-nOticedto drop the jaw openin' sleep, but never, used unless . the, adesoidfi'h»ve>fiT6t?been. removed. : „*&■■„/*•.