Endoscopic examination in children is a painless and short procedure, during which the inside of the nose and nasopharynx are carefully examined. It is used to diagnose a significant number of diseases, the main of which is the of adenoid hypertrophy in the nasopharynx.

Adenoids role & hypertrophy

Adenoids are small masses of lymph tissue located in the upper airway, between the nose and the back of the throat. Along with the tonsils, the adenoids are part of the lymphatic system, which work to protect the body from germs, absorb nutrients, maintain proper fluid levels, and eliminate certain wastes.

The anatomical position of adenoids allows them to help fight infection by preventing germs from entering the body through the mouth or nose. Most often, hypertrophy of adenoids occurs in children under 5 years of age. After this point, the adenoids usually begin to shrink in size and do not contribute significantly in the immune response.

Endoscopic examination in children & diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy

Endoscopic examination in children is carried out by ENT Surgeon in Athens Dr. Olga Papadopoulou with special pediatric endoscopes, which can be either flexible or rigid, is used to diagnose adenoid hypertrophy. The specific tools are smaller in diameter than the classic endoscopes used in adults, so that the young patient does not feel any discomfort. These specific endoscopes have a camera and a source of light at their end. The camera transfers the enlarged image of the inside of the nose and nasopharynx to a high-resolution screen, allowing the diagnosis of the condition. The display of the examination on the screen can be watched by both the young patient and his parents.

Endoscopic examination in children & diagnosis of other conditions

In addition to the adenoid hypertrophy, other diseases that can be diagnosed by endoscopy in children are allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, the existence of nasal polyps or benign and malignant tumors of the nasal cavity, hypertrophy of the nasal cavities, or the examination of the cause of nosebleed. The endoscopic examination in children allows a detailed check of the upper respiratory system without the child having to prepare for it.

Process of endoscopic check in children

The examination is quick and painless, and is performed under mild local anesthesia. Anesthesia is administered to the young patient by placing a cotton pad soaked in local anesthetic on the nose. The test results are extremely accurate. However, for the proper conduct of the examination, the cooperation of the child is necessary. Endoscopic examination of children is recorded and parents can save the entire procedure on a USB stick if they wish and if they bring the device with them.