In this section we take a look at some of the common ear canal conditions we regularly treat children for. By understanding these conditions, they can often be avoided. More importantly, being aware of these conditions will help you detect problems early before they become major health issues.
We discuss:
- Swimmer’s Ear
- Ear Wax Impaction
- Canal Foreign Body
If your child is feeling discomfort and pain in their ear, there is a possibility that your child might be suffering from an ear canal infection or other problem. Often infections and problems affecting the ear canal can be treated by your child’s primary care physician. Sometimes if treatment is refractory to initial medical care your child’s primary care physician may refer them for a consultation with us at ENT for Children.
Some of the most common conditions in a child’s ear canal, include:
Swimmer’s Ear
This condition is also known as Otitis Externa or external ear infection. It occurs because of moisture or water within the ear canal that does not dry out. Scratching or trauma to the ear canal can also bring about this infection. While this can commonly occur after swimming, it may also occur from a bath, shower, and use of earplugs or hearing aid molds. The infection leads to severe pain and swelling within the ear canal that may progress to involve swelling, pain and redness in front of or behind the ear. Pain caused by touching or pulling on the ear is one of the most common symptoms of Swimmer’s ear. Yellow or green drainage from the ear may also occur.
Swimmer’s ear can be prevented with the consistent use of swimmer’s ear drops that contain alcohol and vinegar. However, if your child has ear tubes or a perforation of the ear drum, you should not use any drops for Swimmer’s ear and instead, contact your pediatric ENT physician.
Ear Wax Impaction
Wax impaction occurs when the ear canal fills up with excessive wax (also known as cerumen). Ear wax impaction may lead to complaints of ear fullness, decrease hearing, ear pain and may increase the likelihood of developing swimmer’s ear. The use of Q-tips in your child’s ear increases the chance of wax impaction. In your child’s small ear a Q-tip tends to push the wax further down the ear canal where it cannot be seen, which will exacerbate the problem.
Often your child’s primary care physician can clean wax from the ear canal in clinic. In cases where your child’s primary care physician is unable to clear the ear wax they may refer your child to ENT for Children. In our clinic we can often clear the ear wax impaction under a microscope using small metal instruments or suction (a small vacuum like device). In cases of severe wax impaction where because of pain or potential risk of damaging the ear drum it may require that your child undergo a general anesthetic to remove the wax impaction.
Ear Canal Foreign Body
Ear canal foreign bodies are very common in children from 2-6 years of age. These usually include food items, insects, toys, rocks, plastic parts or any small object that a child thinks might fit in their ear canal. Your child may not have any symptoms with the foreign body in their ear. It may be found on routine exam by your child’s primary care physician. Sometimes a foreign body in the ear canal may lead to pain or drainage.
A foreign body in the ear is usually not an emergency (the exception are small, watch batteries) and is best handled by an experienced pediatric ENT physician with the proper instruments and equipment for safe, painless removal of the object.
If your child’s primary care physician is unable to remove the foreign body they may refer your child to ENT for Children. In our clinic we can often remove the foreign body under a microscope using small metal instruments or suction (a small vacuum like device).
In cases where we feel it cannot be done safely in the office or becomes too painful to remove, it may require that your child undergo a general anesthetic to remove the foreign body.