When your kid is sick, whether with an occasional cold or an ever-present series of ear infections, it’s natural to search high and low for ways to help them feel better. When it comes to ear infections, that relief may come from a visit to a pediatric ENT clinic like ENT for Children.
Why Does My Child Get So Many Ear Infections?
An estimated five out of six children will have at least one ear infection before they turn three years old, making ear infections one of the most common reasons for pediatrician visits. Ear infections don’t spread from person to person. Instead, they arise when fluid builds up in the middle ear and gets infected.
Children get so many ear infections because their Eustachian tubes, responsible for draining fluid from the middle ear, are too small. Their small tubes put them at a greater risk of fluid backup.
While ear infections aren’t contagious, they can be painful. If your child experiences frequent ear infections or their infections are severe, it’s worth consulting a pediatric ENT specialist.
How Can a Pediatric ENT Specialist Help?
There are a few different approaches a pediatric ENT specialist takes to manage ear infections:
- Prevention. Your child’s ENT specialist may recommend ear tubes to prevent repeated infections. Ear tubes are small implants that surgeons place in your child’s eardrum to help improve airflow and drain fluid. Most ear tubes fall out on their own within four to 18 months. An ENT specialist may recommend the tubes if your child gets recurring or very painful ear infections.
- Antibiotics. If your child’s ear infection doesn’t clear within a few days, their specialist may recommend antibiotics. After the infection has cleared, the fluid may remain for a few weeks, but it should drain eventually.
- Treating side effects. Aside from pain, a ruptured or perforated eardrum is one of the most significant potential side effects of ear infections. As fluid puts pressure on the eardrum, it can cause the thin skin to tear. If that happens, and the tear doesn’t resolve on its own, their ENT specialist may recommend an eardrum patch to promote faster healing.
Nobody likes seeing their kid sick. If your child has recurring ear infections, schedule an appointment with us at ENT for Children. We’ll help you find the best treatment option to get your little one feeling better as soon as possible.