Is it safe to have a tonsillectomy for children?

What are tonsils?

Tonsils are two soft tissue pads located on both sides of the back of the throat that help the immune system protect the body from infections. Tonsils are a part of the lymphatic system which clears away infection and keeps body fluids in balance. Sometimes these tonsils get inflamed due to a viral infection. This condition is known as tonsillitis. Strep throat bacterial infections can also cause tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis is very common among children over the age of two. Bacteria induced tonsillitis is more common in kids ages 5-15, and tonsillitis caused by a virus is more common in younger children. 

What Is a Tonsillectomy?

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries carried out in kids and teens to remove the inflamed tonsils. Surgery is often recommended based on the frequency, intensity, and severity of your child’s symptoms.  

When should a child get a tonsillectomy?

Typically, an expert doctor will consider a tonsillectomy when tonsillitis causes certain conditions in your child, such as:

• Frequent throat infections
• Breathing trouble, either when asleep or awake
• Difficulty in swallowing or drinking

Some children may have large tonsils that can obstruct breathing at night, leading to snoring, mouth breathing, and obstructive sleep apnea. If your child develops any of these conditions, then he or she should be evaluated for the presence of a sleep disturbance, and tonsillectomy may be recommended.

Is tonsillectomy safe for my child?

Tonsillectomy has proved to be an extremely safe procedure providing excellent recovery rates and outcomes. Tonsillectomy is often performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. The process takes less than an hour. However, some children may have some breathing, sleep, or airway complications such as asthma or sleep apnea that increase their risk. 

At Trisense ENT, children at higher risk (as well as those under age three) stay overnight after their tonsillectomy and are carefully monitored for complications.

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Can allergy be cured permanently with immunotherapy?

Anyone can develop allergies at any age. Most often, allergies developed in your childhood will appear only when you are an adult. Allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system against harmless substances called allergens. The most common types of allergens are pollen, latex, molds, animal dander, dust mites, certain foods, and certain medications. The immune system treats these allergens as invaders and tries to fight off by releasing antibodies known as immunoglobulin. These antibodies then make some cells to generate chemicals and release them into the bloodstream. This causes allergic reactions. 

 Treating Allergy With Immunotherapy:

Allergies can extend from mild to moderate. People with allergies often find it challenging to manage them. Most cases can be treated at home or using over the counter medicines. Some conditions may be fatal. Immunotherapy are considered as the most commonly used and most effective form of allergy treatment. 

Immunotherapy can change the immune system and make it possible to prevent the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, conjunctivitis (eye allergy), or stinging insect allergy.

 How does Immunotherapy help?

Immunotherapy reduces the sensitivity to allergens and provides long-lasting relief of allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy  often work as a vaccine.The immunity becomes more tolerant to the allergen or less sensitive to the allergen. 

Immunotherapy also helps to develop a "blocking" antibody, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substance is encountered in the future. 

 The immunotherapy is carried out in two phases: the build-up phase and the maintenance phase:

Buildup phase: It is in this phase the patient is given the sublingual drops , and the dose is increased eventually. The sublingual drops  are given one to two times a week. The length of the build-up face generally ranges from three to six months.

Maintenance phase: Depending on the response to the build-up phase and the level of allergen sensitivity, the effective maintenance dose is decided. The therapy is given between a more extended period than the build-up phase. 

The effectiveness of immunotherapy will depend on the duration of the treatment program as well as the dose of the allergen. Immunotherapy is very effective in preventing the development of new allergies, and in children, it can prevent the progression of allergic diseases from allergic rhinitis to asthma. 

Immunotherapy is suggested only when a person is selectively sensitive to several allergens. Hence, it is crucial to identify the trigger factors for allergy symptoms before starting the treatment. A Skin prick test or blood tests can help to confirm the specific allergens to which the person has antibodies.

Immunotherapy is not effective in treating food allergies. The best option for people with food allergies is to identify that particular food and strictly avoid it.

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Allergic Rhinitis - All You Have to Know.

Allergic Rhinitis is caused by breathing in tiny particles of allergens. It can affect different parts of your body like skin, eyes, or nose. Allergic Rhinitis, also called Hay Fever affects your nose when you are exposed to pollen, dust, or pet hair. When you come in contact with the allergen, your body’s immune system releases a natural chemical named Histamine, which defends your body from the allergen, and this chemical causes you Allergic Rhinitis.

There are two different forms of Allergic Rhinitis, Seasonal and Perennial. 

Seasonal Rhinitis occurs during specific seasons like spring and summer, where we have more chances to get exposed to pollens from trees. Perennial Rhinitis shows up whenever you get in contact with dust or pet hair.

Look for these symptoms:  

• Repeated sneezing.
• Runny nose.
• Itchy nose.
• Stuffy nose due to congestion.  

Your family history of having asthma and eczema can increase your chances of acquiring Allergic Rhinitis.  

Follow the tips below to avoid exposure from allergens.  

• Try to stay indoors when it is windy outside so that you can avoid exposure from pollens.
• Use a mask while you clean any dusty place and while gardening.
• Do not allow pollen counts to stick to your clothes, so hang clothes inside somewhere to dry.
• Wear sunglass when you go out to prevent dust enter your eyes.
• Keep the windows closed.
• Clean the walls of your house regularly.
• Wash your blankets, pillow covers, curtains, and bedsheets regularly.
• Clean the air conditioning unit of your car and home.
• Pets must be kept outside your home.
• Wash your hands immediately after bathing or touching your pets.
• Always use a mask while cleaning your pet. 

In case of severe allergy, you can consult your doctor who might prescribe nasal sprays, pills, eye drops, and syrups to help relieve the symptoms. If Allergic Rhinitis is not treated, it can lead to further complications like sinusitis, nasal polyps, and sinusitis.

Immunotherapy is an effective treatment and best remedy for allergies.

We at TRISENSE ENT strives to provide the best treatment for all your ENT related problems.

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Suffering from Critical Allergy? A Skin Prick Test Can Help you

Allergies are a major cause of illness among people around the world. It covers a wide range of triggers and symptoms such as food allergies and environmental allergies to mood-changing and even life-threatening anaphylaxis. People with allergies often struggle to find a way to manage them. 

Understanding what causes allergies is the first step in learning how to manage them. A skin prick test with Trisense ENT can help you to find out the reason for your allergy and manage them with appropriate measures. 

What is a skin prick test?

The skin prick test, also known as a puncture or scratch test is the gold standard for allergy testing. Allergy symptoms are the result of an overreaction of your immune system to an allergen. An allergen is any substance that elicits an allergic reaction, such as mold, pet dander, dust mites, and foods. 

Skin prick test checks for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 40 different substances at once. At TriSense ENT & Allergy Centre, we examine allergic reactions to 68 different substances to give a more precise diagnosis. It helps to find out these IgE antibodies in different ways and to identify your allergies. We offer these tests for children and adults.

What happens during the test?

For adults, the test is mostly done on the forearm. Children may be tested on the upper back. First, your doctor or nurse will clean your forearm or back with alcohol and mark and label areas with a pen. Then they'll place a drop of a potential allergen on each of those spots and prick the skin with a comb-like tool. Then, they will add a small amount of a suspected allergen over the pricked area. 

About 15 minutes later, the doctor or nurse will examine the allergic reactions appearing on your skin. If you are allergic to one of the substances tested, you'll develop a raised, itchy bump which is similar to a mosquito bite. A nurse will then measure the bump's size. 

A positive skin test result indicates that you may be allergic to a particular substance. Bigger size usually mean a higher degree of sensitivity. A negative skin test results show that you probably aren't allergic to a specific allergen.

How to get rid of my allergy?

If you are tired of trying different medications to lessen or to avoid allergy, TriSense ENT & Allergy Centre can guide you through the right path. They offer various treatments, considering the nature of your allergy. 

According to the experts of TriSense ENT & Allergy Centre, sublingual immunotherapy may be one of the most effective forms of treatment if you suffer from allergies for more than three months in a year. 

What is sublingual immunotherapy?

Sublingual immunotherapy is an alternative way to treat allergies without injections as it is given as drops or tablets under the tongue.  The patient will receive, a small dose of the allergen (any substance or antigen that is recognised by the immune system and causes an allergic reaction) daily, under the tongue to boost immunity to the allergen and reduce symptoms. The standard duration for this treatment could extend up to one year. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed sublingual immunotherapy as a feasible alternative to immunotherapy, which is provided in the form of injections. 

The first four months are considered as the escalation period. One primary dose is provided during this time, and the medicinal dose will be gradually increased. Next is the maintenance phase where the patient takes a series of booster drops or tablets for the rest of the months. This is to maintain the immunity of the patient.

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Common Throat and Voice Disorders

Throat and voice disorders are common problems that every one of us have experienced. Most of the throat problems are not so serious, they come with a cold and then go away. But sometimes, they may be a sign of some serious illness.

Any strain to the throat or vocal cord can lead to vocal difficulties and this can have an impact on our day to day chores. Problems in throat or voice are mainly due to infections, injuries or strain. Nowadays, advanced tools and medications are used by ENT specialists to treat throat and vocal cord disorders.

Know it earlier and treat it better

Here is the list of some of the common problems that can affect your throat and vocal cord:

Tonsilitis- Tonsilitis is a common condition that can affect a person of any age. This condition is contagious and it is caused by virus and bacteria. Difficulty in swallowing, pain, fever, a stiff neck, stomach aches are some of the symptoms of tonsilitis. If tonsilitis is left untreated it can lead to other serious complications.

Strep Throat- Strep throat is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. This condition is caused by streptococcus bacteria. This infection can be spread from sneezing or coughing. It affects people of all ages but it is commonly found in children between the ages of 5 to 15. People with strep throat may experience high fever, trouble swallowing, and sore throat.

Throat Cancer- Cancer in throat affects voice box, the vocal cords, and other parts of the throat such as tonsils and oropharynx. Certain habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, poor dental hygiene are some reasons that increase the risk of developing throat cancer.

Acute Laryngitis- In most of the cases, acute laryngitis is caused by a viral infection that leads to swelling of the vocal cord. It is a condition that leads to hoarseness and sometimes we may completely lose our voice for a while. The best treatment for acute laryngitis is to keep the vocal hydrated and not to talk much.

Vocal cord nodules- Vocal cord nodules are small growths that form on the vocal cord which are caused by voice abuse. These nodules are benign in nature and can be cured by following proper vocal hygiene.

Vocal Cord Hemorrhage- A vocal cord hemorrhage is developed when one experiences sudden voice loss due to yelling, shouting or other strenuous vocal activities. Vocal cord hemorrhage can be resolved with complete voice rest. 

If you are suffering from the throat or vocal cord disorders, consult an ENT specialist. You can get the best treatment from experienced ENT specialists at TriSense ENT, Bangalore.

For more details call@9535138726.

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Sinusitis and Polyps