Review of diseases of the thymus, causes of diseases and their consequences. Thymus gland - an important organ of the immune system, symptoms and treatment

The immune system of a child begins to form long before it is born. At the sixth week of pregnancy, the fetus already has thymus is the central organ of human immunogenesis. Due to the fact that it is shaped like a fork, the thymus is also called thymus. The younger the child and the more often he gets sick, the more actively the thymus works, and, accordingly, the more intensively it grows. The growth of the thymus gland slows down when the child is 12 years old. His immune system by this time is already considered formed. In adults, only a reminder remains of the thymus gland in the form of a small lump of adipose tissue. And by old age, the thymus in a person is almost absorbed.

The thymus gland in children - what is it, what is it responsible for and where is it located

In children who are prone to and, the thymus may grow beyond normal. Usually, treatment in such cases is not required. When a child reaches the age of five, the thymus returns to normal. But there are more complex cases that require even surgical intervention.

The thymus gland in our body generates and “trains” special cells called T- lymphocytes. They are responsible for the formation of immunity against diseases, fight allergens and neutralize them.

So we found out that thymus- This is a gland related to the immune system and is responsible for training cells that are designed to fight viruses, bacteria and allergens that enter the human body. From birth until the child reaches puberty, the thymus gland works, forming its immunity. Then, as unnecessary, it atrophies.

Functions

They vaccinated the baby - the thymus became more active, forcing the child's body to produce antibodies to the vaccine. Picked up a toddler, the thymus gland immediately sends its “army” of T-lymphocytes to fight it. And this happens every time a new hostile environment enters the child's body.

Where is

The thymus consists of two lobes separated by loose tissue. It is located behind the sternum - in its upper part - and reaches the base of the tongue. It is not uncommon for an enlarged thymus gland to cause attacks of false croup and swelling of the larynx in children.

The size of the thymus in children: the norm (photo)

The thymus of a healthy child should be no more than CTTI 0.33(CTTI - cardiothymic thoracic index - this is how the thymus is measured). If this index is higher, fixed thymomegaly ( increase) , which can be of three levels:

I. CTTI 0.33-0.37;

II. CTTI 0.37-0.42;

III. CTTI more than 0.42.

Among the factors that have a direct impact on the increase in the thymus, one can name pathologies of fetal development during, gene anomalies, late pregnancy, infectious diseases suffered by the expectant mother.

ultrasound

Theoretically, it is possible to determine the size of the thymus using radiography and ultrasound examination of the thymus gland. For diagnosis in children, x-rays are used only as a last resort, due to the risk of exposing the child. Usually, ultrasound is enough to get the desired results.

Immunity and thymus: Komarovsky (video)

Hyperplasia and hypoplasia of the thymus

Among diseases of the thymus gland, in addition to thymomegaly, in children one can also find hyperplasia and hypoplasia of the thymus. Hyperplasia of the thymus- this is the growth of its tissues with the formation of neoplasms. A hypoplasia- this is a violation of the function of T-lymphocytes due to congenital pathologies of development. These diseases are recorded much less often than thymomegaly, but they require more serious medical intervention.

Thymomegaly: symptoms to see a doctor

What could be the reason for going to the doctor? What symptoms may indicate an enlarged thymus gland in a child?

The baby is rapidly gaining (or losing) weight.
After feeding, the baby often spits up.
The child begins to cough when he lies down (false croup).
Often suffers from colds.
When a baby cries, its skin turns blue-violet.
There is a venous mesh on the chest, and the skin is covered with the so-called marble pattern.
With an enlarged thymus, the tonsils, adenoids, or lymph nodes can also increase in size.
Often in children, arrhythmia and reduced muscle tone are observed.

Treatment of an enlarged gland

Often, with an increase in the thymus gland, drug treatment is not required. The exception is rare complex cases of thymomegaly.

But you should make every effort to. Doctors recommend:

Taking vitamins and a diet rich in proteins.
Hardening and sports.
Compliance with the daily routine.
Vaccinations for thymomegaly can be done, only you first need to give the child an antihistamine prescribed by a pediatrician.
Contact with SARS patients should be avoided.
Avoid eating allergenic food.

And a very important point. If your child has an enlarged thymus gland, he should not take acetylsalicylic acid as an antipyretic. Aspirin can speed up the growth of thymus cells.

The question of what is thymomegaly or an increase in the thymus gland is not often repeated in consultations. The thymus is a mysterious gland, about which there is little information at all, not everyone knows why it is needed, where it is located, how dangerous its enlargement is and how it is generally treated, what is connected with it. And when a child is diagnosed with this, it plunges many fathers and mothers into deep shock, because this is also connected with immunity, as parents think.

Total information
Enlarged thymus syndrome in a baby is a special collective term, it includes several different kinds of problems with the thymus. Problems with the thymus may be due to the fact that the direct function of the thymus gland is impaired, or then it may be the result of secondary disorders of the thymus that occur due to leukemia, rheumatism or thyrotoxicosis.
The thymus has been known for a long time, it was described at the end of the seventeenth century, but its function became more or less clear only by the middle of the 19th century, when the thymus was attributed to the glands of internal secretion, that is, secreting biologically active substances.

The thymus gland, as the thymus is otherwise called, is a special system that consists of special cells and lymphocytes that impregnate it. This is a paired organ consisting of lobules and it is located in the mediastinum, inside the chest cavity, behind the lungs. By the birth of a baby, the thymus has its maximum size, about 4% of the baby's body weight. Inside the thymus are special little bodies, and they are considered the place where hormones are produced. Today they have been studied enough and the most famous hormones are thymosin and thymopoietin, as well as special thymus factors and thymarin, but little is known about their hormonal function.

These substances together or separately in a certain way affect some types of metabolism - they change the level of sugar, reducing it, and calcium, also reducing it. In addition, these substances reduce the amount of organic phosphorus in the skeletal muscle area, affect hematopoiesis, body growth and the degree of puberty, affect immunity and the development of lymphoid tissue.
With age, involution or reverse development of the thymus occurs, it occurs in several stages and manifests itself in the gradual disappearance of lymphocytes from the tissue of the thymus and the bodies that produce hormones. And the thymus tissue itself begins to be replaced by fat or sclerosed.

Why is the thymus enlarged?
The exact cause of thymus enlargement has not been established to this day, but there are certain factors that will contribute to the development of thymus enlargement. These are chronic diseases of the parents, problems with pregnancy and a burdened obstetric history of the mother, a damaging effect on the fetus of drugs, alcohol, pregnancy with Rhesus conflict. In addition, acute infections, and the presence of chronic pathology, prematurity, and asphyxia lead to problems with the thymus. In addition, there are indications of birth trauma, distress syndrome, or disturbances in the development of the fetus. Contributes to the development of thymomegaly rickets and allergies, malnutrition, tuberculosis and syphilis, surgical infections, vaccination, pneumonia and sepsis. Problems with metabolism and endocrine pathology, problems with the nervous system, tumors and blood diseases, exposure to chemical, physical and genetic factors can lead to manifestations.

Due to the fact that the factors are diverse and they cause thymomegaly, several types of thymomegaly can be distinguished as a pathological syndrome. First of all, it is worth highlighting thymomegaly, which occurs due to the functional stress of the organ (and the entire lymphatic system too) in the period when the baby is actively adapting to the conditions of the world with microbes and viruses. This is also helped by the special conditions of the baby's hormonal background in early childhood - children have a high secretion of growth hormone and a relatively low amount of stress hormones (pituitary and adrenal cortex).

Another reason for the increase in the thymus is the extreme effects on the fetus and heart during pregnancy - this happens when exposed to x-rays, other radiation, acetone and alcohol, and the thymus also suffers from hypoxia during pregnancy and asphyxia during childbirth. It will grow dramatically during the development of a baby in the first days after the birth of viral or microbial infections, exposure to strong allergens, a malfunction in the hormonal background - this gives a strong reactive increase in the thymus.

You all know about stress, that there is bad and good stress (who doesn’t know, I’ll write an article soon). So the thymus plays a direct role in the mechanisms of stress development and increases during the period of adaptation to stress and then slowly but surely decreases. This is all understandable, stress hormones have some immunosuppressive effect and the thymus increases compensatory, so that during stress various infections or allergens do not turn stress into pathology. But if the stress is prolonged, chronic, the thymus begins to "shrink", its pathological involution occurs under the action of hormones of the adrenal cortex. Then the function of the thymus in the production of lymphocytes and the work of the immune system suffers, the hormone-forming function of the thymus is disturbed, and the metabolism and the work of the immune system are unbalanced.

Pathology of the thymus.
If changes in the thymus manifest themselves as pathological, then signs of that same thymomegaly begin to appear, more precisely, the increase in the thymus itself is a sign of the so-called lymphatic diathesis. This is an acute form of immunological breakdowns and, as a result, a predisposition to the development of chronic immunopathological processes. On average, in children it occurs in 6-13%. This phenomenon includes an increase in adenoids and tonsils, the predominance of lymphocytes in the blood, and a special sensitivity to viral and microbial infections, called "does not get out of the snot!". This phenomenon is most pronounced in overfed artificial children with fair skin and a loose body. They usually get sick every month or two, have chronic nasopharyngeal problems, and if you ask grandparents, their parents were the same in childhood.

So, in combination with an increase in the thymus gland in a child, there is a family tendency to tonsillitis, sinusitis and otitis media, allergies in relatives, the family suffers from an increase in body weight up to obesity. The child is usually also dense, with enlarged lymph nodes, often gets sick, has frequent intestinal disorders (stool problems), manifestations of food allergies and dermatitis from 2-3 years of age. Often these children have eczema and dermatitis, reactions to medications and difficulties in adapting to kindergarten. In this case, the doctor puts the child on a dispensary record and conducts courses of treatment - prevention of frequent colds, restrictive and hardening measures, with instillation of interferon preparations into the nose, a course of dibazol for 20 days a month, courses for 2-3 months. In addition, such children are prescribed immunotherapy - pentoxyl, ascorutin and vitamins from the group. Mandatory should be the appointment of vegetables and fruits, products with potassium, pectins and others.

Other pathologies associated with the thymus.
According to the classification of scientists who have studied the problems of the thymus, there are several types of problems affecting the thymus. All of them determine the degree of damage, the state of the thymus, the degree of its expansion on x-rays and the clinical form of the problem. There are congenital problems and acquired during life, in addition, organic (when the structure is broken) and functional (when there are no structural defects, but the coordinated work of the thymus is broken). In addition, it is possible to single out the primary level of the problem, when the thymus is initially affected, and it gives a chain of events in the body, and the secondary, when the thymus is affected by an already existing disease.

Congenital malformations of the thymus occur in utero when something affects the fetus. A functional increase in the thymus can be considered its increase in acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, etc. But after about three months, the shadow of the thymus on the X-ray returns to normal. If the changes are irreversible, the thymus begins to atrophy, especially with prolonged and severe lesions. The thymus is especially strongly affected in the pathology of the endocrine glands and the nervous system. There are three forms of thymus changes:

The cutaneous form with respiratory damage, these are colds from birth of a long nature, their protracted course, their transition to a chronic form and the formation of asthma. In addition, in parallel with them, skin problems appear in the form of an allergic rash, weeping and diaper rash.
- a form with damage to the digestive system and urinary system, manifested by frequent vomiting, regurgitation, pain in the abdomen and impaired stool. There may be enlargement of the liver, lesions of the urinary tract.

Form with damage to the heart and blood vessels. These children are pale from birth with pressure fluctuations and fainting, subfebrile condition is often detected. There are noises in the heart, frequent tonsillitis with damage to the joints and blood vessels. Rheumatism may develop later.

In the second part of our poem, we will discuss the clinic of thymus enlargement.

The thymus gland, or thymus, is the central organ of humans and some types of animals, which is responsible for the immune system of the body.

Between the ages of 20 and 25, the thymus ceases to function in humans, and subsequently it is converted into fatty tissue.

The thymus performs many useful functions, and if they are disturbed, a person can develop various diseases. We will study what the thymus gland is in adults, the symptoms of the disease of this organ, changes in its work.

The thymus gland is located in the upper part of the chest, near the anterior mediastinum. An organ is formed on the 42nd day in fetal development.

The thymus gland in childhood is much larger than in the adult generation and may be located closer to the heart.

The organ continues normal growth until the age of 15, and then the reverse development of the thymus gland begins.

As already mentioned, by about the age of 25, and sometimes even earlier, the thymus ceases to perform its functions and all the glandular tissues of the organ in an adult are replaced by connective and fatty ones.

It is for this reason that adults are much more susceptible to various infections and oncological pathologies.

Functions of the thymus gland in adults

The thymus performs the following important functions in the human body:

The thymus gland produces many hormones: thymosin, thymalin, thymopoietin, IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor-1, humoral factor. All these hormones are proteins, polypeptides, and in one way or another participate in the formation of the human immune system.
Carries out the production of lymphocytes, the main cells of the immune system that are involved in the production of antibodies.
T cells mature in the gland, which are the central regulator of the immune response.
In the thymus, internal aggressive cells are destroyed, which attack healthy ones.
The thymus gland filters the blood and lymph that flows through it.

Due to the normal functioning of the thymus gland, the human body steadfastly responds to all infectious invasions and various diseases.

Thymus gland diseases - symptoms in adults

With various changes in the work of the thymus, the following symptoms are usually observed in the body of an adult:

muscle fatigue is noticeable;
there is "heaviness" in the eyelids;
breathing is disturbed;
long recovery after various infectious diseases, even the simplest ones, such as SARS.

Often the manifestation of symptoms is due to the fact that some diseases are already developing in the body. Therefore, when they are detected, it is better to immediately consult a doctor for further examination.

How to determine the increase in the thymus?

An increase in the thymus gland indicates that the normal functioning of this organ is impaired.

In addition, the thymus gland can be enlarged for hereditary reasons.

It can be impossible to determine an increase in the gland by “touch”, but with the help of an x-ray of the lungs in a direct projection, a change in its size is quite easy to trace.

If x-rays are taken regularly, then thymus deformity can be recognized at an early stage.

In addition, an increase in the thymus can be diagnosed using ultrasound.

Ultrasound and X-ray do not give an accurate diagnosis of thymus enlargement, therefore, to confirm it, doctors prescribe a more accurate diagnosis - magnetic resonance imaging. It much more accurately determines the change in the size of the thymus.

Graves' disease is a serious disease, but at the moment the exact cause of the onset of the disease has not been established. Let's take a look at the symptoms of this disease.

Causes of thymus enlargement

The thymus can increase due to various pathologies that occur in the body. A signal of their appearance is evidenced by the exacerbating symptoms that were described above.

So, a consequence of an increase in the size of the thymus gland can be:

infectious diseases of varying severity;
malignant and benign tumors, including oncological pathologies;
thymoma;
myasthenia gravis;
T cell lymphoma;
endocrine neoplasia of the first type;
MEDAC syndrome;
Di George's syndrome;
violation of the immune system, etc.

All causes of thymus enlargement are dangerous and require urgent treatment.

Treatment of thymus pathologies

Each patient with thymus disease corresponds to a certain treatment, which depends on the type of disease, the individual characteristics of the human body and some other factors.

At the same time, an immunologist deals with problems with the immune system, and if the thymus disease is due to various tumors, then an oncologist treats.

Patients with thymus pathology are prescribed various types of therapy - drug, substitution, symptomatic, immunomodulatory, and sometimes traditional medicine is also prescribed.

Immunomodulators, corticosteroids, drugs that normalize calcium metabolism in the body, etc. are used.

Sometimes, it is possible to get rid of the disease by removing the enlarged thymus or with the help of surgery.

diet therapy

Nutrition for pathologies of the thymus gland is important and is controlled by doctors, both during the period of treatment and as a method of prevention.

At the same time, the diet can be prescribed not only for children, but also for adults. The diet of a person with thymus disease should include:

ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, which is found, for example, in foods such as broccoli, rose hips, lemon, sea buckthorn;
vitamin D - beef, liver, egg yolk, some dairy products, brewer's yeast, walnuts;
zinc element - pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.

The diet helps to strengthen the immune system and maintain the work of the gland, so it should be strictly observed.

ethnoscience

Traditional medicine is used only as a therapy that enhances immunity. Plants that help strengthen the immune system include:

rose hip;
black currant;
nettle;
rowan and many others.

There are a lot of recipes based on these plants. Let's take a look at some of them.

Decoction of wild rose and blackcurrant

Ingredients:

rosehip (1/2 tbsp);
blackcurrant (1/2 tbsp);
boiled water (2 tbsp.).

Blackcurrant and wild rose are poured with water and put on fire. After it boils, boil the resulting mixture for 10 minutes. Then leave to infuse for 2 hours in a container with a tightly closed lid. The decoction is taken in half a glass 3 times a day.

A decoction of rowan and nettle

Ingredients:

nettle (3 parts);
rowan (7 parts);
water (2 tbsp.).

Method of preparation and use:

All parts of nettle and rowan are mixed. From the mixture take 1 tablespoon and pour boiling water. They put it on fire.

After boiling, cook for another 10 minutes, and then insist 4 hours in a closed container. Take half a glass in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Alternative therapy is very effective in strengthening immunity.

The news that the thymus gland is able to prolong youth has been around for a long time and there are many who want to “renew” this organ after it has ceased to function.

But no one performs thymus transplantation operations, since they are very dangerous and require transplantation not only of the thymus gland, but also of many other organs up to the bone marrow.

An alternative was another way to "renew" the organ - the introduction of embryonic stem cells into the thymus.

This method promises to completely restore the fading thymus and restore youth and health to a person. Supporters of this technique claim that such an injection really works.

The thymus gland is a vital organ and requires special attention even after it ceases to function. In adults, the thymus shows its symptoms most pronounced, which means that dangerous diseases can appear, so it is important to be examined in a timely manner and strengthen the immune system.

What is the thymus gland?

The thymus gland (in medicine it is called the thymus or goiter gland) is located in the lower part of the neck and partly captures the sternum. The internal organs that limit its location are the edges of the lungs, the trachea and the pericardium.

The thymus gland is formed in the first month of pregnancy, and by the time the child is born it reaches 10 g. Until the age of 3, it increases sharply, the maximum volume is fixed at 15 years (up to 40 g), after which the gland again decreases in size. Gradually, its tissues are replaced by fatty ones, and the gland again returns to a volume of 7-10 g.

The thymus gland in newborns consists of two lobes, which, in turn, also contain lobules separated by connective tissue. The thymus is classified as an endocrine gland. The main function of this organ is to ensure the functioning of the immune system, the renewal of brain cells and the production of antibodies. An increase, a decrease in the size of the gland, which goes beyond the norm, its absence, tumors lead to impaired immunity.

In children, problems with the thymus gland can be recognized by the symptoms:

enlarged thymus on x-ray;
enlargement of lymph nodes, adenoids, tonsils;
heart failure, hypotension;
hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), fever;
overweight (in boys);
marble pattern on the skin;
weight loss;
frequent regurgitation;
cough in the absence of a cold.

Thymus gland diseases

There are several groups of thymus diseases in adults. Symptoms of these diseases will have some differences.

Cyst

Most often occurs in young people, but it is not excluded at a more mature age. It happens inflammatory and tumor. Symptoms of the disease are practically absent. Detected with an x-ray. Dangerous with hemorrhages upon rupture.

Hyperplasia

The disease is the appearance of neoplasms in the gland in the form of lymphoid follicles. The size of the thymus may remain the same. Hyperplasia usually accompanies other serious diseases: myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune anemia, and others.

aplasia

This is a congenital disease characterized by the absence of parenchyma and a decrease in the number of leukocytes. Most often accompanied by intestinal and pulmonary infectious diseases, which can be deadly for the patient.

myasthenia gravis

It manifests itself in increased fatigue and muscle weakness, sticking of the eyes, difficulty in swallowing and speech, nasal voice. The reason may lie in the blocking of the neuromuscular transmission. Most often manifested in a disorder of the organs of vision and respiration. The danger is a myasthenic crisis, in which motor and respiratory disorders are observed.

thymoma

Tumor in the thymus. It can be benign and malignant. Often occurs without pronounced symptoms, but with pressure, shortness of breath, pain, and cyanosis of the face may occur.
Diseases can be congenital and acquired. The nature of the latter has not yet been elucidated. Sometimes changes in the thymus can be influenced by the drugs used: quinine, lidocaine, hormones for the thyroid gland, magnesium salts, and others.

It is difficult to recognize disorders in the work of the thymus gland in adults. The main symptoms only create a suspicion of the disease:

increased fatigue, weakness;
frequent colds and infectious diseases;
enlarged lymph nodes, adenoids;
difficulty breathing.

Determine whether there is a disease, only a doctor can after the examination.

Diagnosis and treatment

X-ray remains the main method of diagnosis. Ultrasound is used less often due to the complexity of the study. Additional analyses:

Ultrasound of internal organs, heart;
blood and urine analysis;
analysis of the hormonal background;
immunogram (study of the composition of lymphocytes).

Treatment methods:

surgical (if the thymus gland is enlarged and its removal is required, with tumors);
injections of thymus extract for a month (this therapeutic method was invented in 1940 and is used mainly by supporters of natural methods of treatment);
taking thymus preparations (corsicosteroids);
diet therapy.

Nutrition plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the thymus gland. The diet can be shown to both children and adults. The key elements that must be present in the patient's food are:

vitamin C (rose hips, broccoli, parsley, lemon, oranges, sea buckthorn);
B vitamins (liver, beef, egg yolk, milk, walnuts, brewer's yeast, vegetables, sprouted wheat);
zinc (pumpkin and sunflower seeds, nuts, beef).

New gland - the second youth

Modern research has revealed a direct dependence of the state of the thymus on the rate of aging of the body. In this regard, thymus transplant operations are becoming fashionable.
However, it is worth remembering that any surgical intervention in the work of this organ threatens with irreversible consequences for a person and becomes a threat to his life. Therefore, resorting to surgery is necessary as a last resort.

The thymus gland is as important an organ as the heart, lungs, and liver. Even if we know very little about her, this is not a reason to neglect her condition. At the first suspicion of a malfunction in this modest, but such an important organ, it is worth contacting an endocrinologist until the changes in the body become irreversible.

The thymus, or thymus gland in children, is one of the indicators of the normal development of the body. Organ of pinkish-gray color and soft consistency, consisting of two lobes, located on the anterior wall of the mediastinum in its upper part. An increase in this gland in a child occurs against the background of a decrease in its functions, which are aimed at producing hormones that stimulate the synthesis of lymphocytes.

It turns out that pathologies associated with the thymus gland lead to suppression of immunity, which greatly affects the condition of the child. It is in childhood that the symptoms of the phenomenon manifest themselves especially clearly. It is worth considering that it is transmitted genetically and is often activated under the influence of external factors.

In addition, the disease may be a consequence of a woman’s late pregnancy, infectious diseases she has suffered and other pathologies while carrying a baby.

Symptoms of pathology characteristic of infancy

In cases where the thymus gland is enlarged in children of the most tender age, this is accompanied by the following manifestations:

The weight of the child at birth exceeds the standard indicators, often very significantly.
The baby is distinguished by the ability to gain and lose body weight very quickly.
The skin is pale, the mucous membranes almost cast blue.
On the chest of a newborn, a venous network clearly appears, which may be present constantly or appear in response to a decrease in temperature.

Advice: Particular attention should be paid to children who often suffer from respiratory infections of the viral type, even mild forms of non-serious pathologies are hard to experience. Such a violent reaction of immunity to various pathogens is a consequence of insufficient production of antibodies.

With tension or crying, cyanosis is clearly manifested on the skin of the child.
A baby may have a cough even if there are no other symptoms of a cold.
In such children, a long-term preservation of subfebrile temperature is recorded for no apparent reason and signs of inflammation, sweating is increased.
Heart rhythms can be disturbed, often this is manifested only after an ECG.
The child often spits up after feeding.

If an increase in the thymus gland is suspected, the first thing to do is to conduct an ultrasound examination of it. If the diagnosis is confirmed, depending on the results and the degree of discomfort of the baby, a decision is made on the treatment.

Signs of an enlarged thymus at an older age

If the pathology was missed at an early age or it was decided to monitor the child's condition without using any type of intervention, then the following symptoms may join the described clinical picture:

There is an increase in lymph nodes, and most often this system is affected in full.
Often there is hypertrophy of the tonsils, adenoids and other tissues on the back of the pharynx.
Enlargement of the thymus gland can be seen even on an x-ray.
Against the background of weakened immunity, the presence of other anomalies in the development of the baby (hernia, habitual dislocation) is noted.
The blood pressure in these children is lowered.
A pronounced marble pattern appears on the skin of the child.
Increased sweating and heart rhythm disturbance become more pronounced.
These children have constantly cold extremities, they often suffer from obesity, even if they follow the rules of a healthy diet.
Boys may experience phimosis or failure of one testicle to descend into the scrotum, while girls may experience genital hypoplasia.

Depending on the severity of the manifestations and the size to which the thymus gland is enlarged in children, the degree of the disease is determined. It affects the approach to treating the condition and organizing care for the baby.

What to do if the baby develops a pathology of the thymus gland?

If an increase in the thymus gland and the symptoms provoked by it allow you to put 1-2 degrees of the disease, then you can carry out routine vaccination. When the 3rd degree is set, such manipulations are suspended for at least six months, this does not apply only to.

With a persistent health disorder in a child, treatment is carried out based on the following manipulations:

At the very peak of the disease or with the development of neurosis, babies can be prescribed hormones for a period of no more than 5 days. Particular attention is paid to the preparation of children under the age of 3 years (if they have an enlarged thymus gland) for surgical interventions. They are prescribed special treatment, strict control of blood pressure. Where possible, general anesthesia is replaced by local anesthesia. If you do not organize the listed activities, there is a risk of developing adrenal insufficiency.
A child who has symptoms of thymus pathology is prescribed a special diet. It is based on the use of foods high in vitamin C: rosehip syrup and decoction, bell pepper, black currant, citrus fruits, broccoli, cauliflower, sea buckthorn and parsley.
Often such babies are given licorice to stimulate the adrenal cortex. In combination with it, Eleutherococcus, famous for its adaptive properties, can be prescribed.
Parents should remember that a child with an enlarged thymus cannot be treated with aspirin. Violation of this rule can cause aspirin asthma.
Every quarter, the baby is prescribed treatment with biostimulants (ginseng, Chinese magnolia vine).
Twice a year, a monthly course of therapy with drugs that stimulate the work of the respiratory center can be carried out.
Children with a confirmed diagnosis should be observed by a pediatrician, immunologist, endocrinologist and otolaryngologist. They are automatically assigned to the second health group, even if the symptoms are minimal.
Parents should do everything possible to prevent the development of respiratory diseases in the baby.
The optimal condition of a child whose thymus gland is enlarged can be maintained with the help of physiotherapy procedures. Usually herbal decoctions act as stimulants.
If a child has developed a collapse, he is given immediate help by administering cardiac glycosides, potassium preparations, and norepinephrine.

With properly administered therapy or mild pathology, all its signs disappear by 3-6 years. If no treatment methods were used, the condition can develop into other diseases of the thymus with all the ensuing consequences.