Respiratory tract infections are one of the common health problems of school going children. The adenoids and tonsils help protect kids from getting sick. We all have adenoids at birth and in childhood; they sit high on each side of the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth. Like tonsils, adenoids help keep the body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that we breathe in or swallow. But they become less important once a kid gets older and the body develops other ways to fight germs. Adenoids usually shrink after about age 5, and by the teenage years they often practically disappear.
Because adenoids trap germs that enter a kid’s body, adenoid tissue sometimes temporarily swells as it tries to fight off an infection. The swelling might go away by its own, but sometimes medical treatment is necessary. In children, the adenoids can get larger because of recurrent infections. Very large adenoids can interfere with breathing. While sleeping, enlarged adenoids may intermittently block the flow of air through the throat. This can cause a person to snore and stop breathing for a few seconds (known as apnea) and can occur several times each night. In children, enlarged adenoids may block the Eustachian tubes, which drain fluid from the ears into the throat. If these tubes are unable to drain, it can lead to repeated ear infections. Sometimes doctors recommend removing the adenoids if medicine does not help, and if the child experiences recurrent infections leading to ear infections
- Reduce intake of cold water, cold food such as ice creams and cold drinks
- Reduce exposure to cold breeze
- Reduce daytime sleep
- Reduce milk and dairy products
- Avoid any oil application on scalp
- Give warm foods and beverages
- Give teas with Basil leaves / Black pepper / Dried Ginger added with honey
- Use water boiled with turmeric for gargle
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