Enlarged adenoids (8-month-old) - Dr. Kadwa

Hello,
our 8-month-old baby boy was diagnosed with enlarged adenoids and is up for a surgery at the end of this month. We want to avoid the surgery. Please advise what remedies we should use to help our baby.

History:
Our son started having a congested/runny nose when he was 4.5 months old. At first his pediatrician told us he caught a virus so we waited for it to run its course. The mucus had become greenish over time and two weeks later the baby was diagnosed with mucopurulent rhinitis, and was put on amoxicillin antibiotic that was changed to cefdinir antibiotic after 6 days. None of the antibiotics helped with reducing the mucus, and the baby was referred to an allergist. The allergy skin test detected an allergy to cats when the baby was 6 months old. We had two Himalayan cats at that time that we had to find a new home for. The house was cleaned thoroughly. The baby ran through two cold viruses one after another at that time. That took a whole month of December. The baby became completely congested by the end of December and the mucus was green. He was put on Cefdinir antibiotic once again at the beginning of January, which helped with the sinus infection he developed. Right after his nose had cleared from the infection (nose was still congested and the mucus kept producing)the ENT specialist looked inside his nose with a camera, and told us that his adenoids were somewhat enlarged. The ENT specialist prescribed a steroid spray for his nose (Fluticasone) that we don't want to use due to enormous side effects such as eye problems - glaucoma and cataracts as well as slowed growth in children. We were told that a surgery had to take place if the spray did not work. The surgery is scheduled for the end of February. The baby will turn 9 months the day before the surgery.

The baby just had yet another sinus infection at the end of January that was treated with Cefdinir antibiotic (2 sinus infections in 1 month). He does not seem to ever recover. It's just sometimes he goes through periods that are bearable (like right now), and over time his sinuses get infected, his nose becomes congested, the mucus green, and the infection has to be treated with antibiotics.

Current symptoms:
Our baby son wakes up every morning with a dry nose only to have it running 1 hour later. He wakes up from naps with a dry nose that stays dry for about an hour. Greenish mucus in the morning (1 hour after he wakes up), after that the mucus is thick and clear. We suction his nose frequently using saline spray to make it a bit runnier in order for us to get it out so the baby can drink his milk (he is breastfed). The mucus keeps producing throughout the day.

At night the baby sleeps on his tummy with a humidifier next to his bed. He wakes up 4-5 times every night. He did not snore until recently, when we noticed him snoring very lightly one night. Sometimes he makes sounds like he does not get enough air and then gulps the air with force (comparable to sleep apnea). That uneven breathing can be heard through a closed door. His nose is DRY during the night, and does not have to be suctioned. His nose is not congested during the night. He nurses just fine when he wakes up at night. He breathes through his mouth at night AND during the day though. He is used to breathing through his mouth. His nose is currently not congested. It is the constantly producing mucus that is not letting him breathe.

About the baby:
Our son is a happy baby and smiles all the time. He likes people and attention. When someone starts talking to him, he becomes all smiles. He is not afraid of strangers. Likes being outside. Likes to observe people and the world around him. Interested in toys. Loves baths, even when is tired, starts smiling and laughing when put in a bathtub full of warm water. He is a content baby, and only fusses when hungry or sleepy. Has a great appetite and eats everything we give him (eats baby solids 3 times a day).

He currently weighs 8.3 kg (18.5 lb).

Please let me know if you need to know anything else about the baby. Thank you!
[message edited by yuliak on Mon, 08 Feb 2016 19:18:38 UTC]
[message edited by yuliak on Mon, 08 Feb 2016 19:21:22 UTC]