SYMPTOMS.-The most pronounced symptom in most cases is interference with nasal respiration, so that the patient is compelled to breathe through the mouth. As the respiratory difficulty is increased during sleep the patient snores loudly, and his sleep is frequently broken by sudden night-terrors. Owing to the disturbed sleep, to imperfect oxygenation of the blood, and to frequent attacks of nasal and bronchial catarrh, the child’s nutrition is interfered with, and he becomes languid and backward at his lessons. When the adenoids encroach upon the Eustachian tubes the patient suffers from deafness, frequent attacks of ear-ache, and sometimes from suppurative middle ear disease, with a discharge from the ear.
Among the rarer conditions attributed to adenoids, are asthma, inspiratory laryngeal stridor, persistent cough, chorea, and nocturnal enuresis.
TREATMENT.-When the child can breathe freely through the noise, the use of an elastic band (see Fig. 3), at night, over a period of six months, with appropriate general and medicinal treatment, may be sufficient.
The object of the elastic band is to hold the lower jaw up and to close the lips, so that the patient must breathe through the nose. If, however, the nose is so obstructed that insufficient passage is present for nasal respiration, or if the patient complain of ear-ache, the thorough removal of the adenoids by a surgeon is indicated. After the operation the elastic band must be worn for a time until nasal respiration is thoroughly established.
Of drugs that will be found useful are- Baryta, Carb., Calc- Carb., Phosphorus, Nat.-Mur., Psorinum. Sulph., Pulsatilla
The child’s general health must also be attended to in respect of good nourishing food, fresh air, and sunlight.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."