Many children suffer from reoccurring ear infections each year. If your child is suffering from frequent ear infections, it can become a source of worry and anxiety for you as a parent. The revolving door of antibiotics prescribed to treat ear infections are not always effective, and do not prevent future infections from forming. Here at Regional ENT Associates, we are passionate about ensuring the overall health and comfort of your child. If your child is, or suffers from frequent ear infections, we can help.
Causes Ear Infections?
An ear infection occurs when bacteria or viruses infiltrate and infect the inner ear, also known as the eustachian tubes. Young children are especially susceptible to ear infections because their inner ear tubes are narrow and quickly fill up with excess fluid. Ear infections can be treated with antibiotics, and typically last a short amount of time. However, they can have long-term effects on ear health, and could even cause ear loss, if the appropriate measures aren’t taken to prevent frequent infections.
Other risk factors include :
- Allergies
- Exposure to tobacco
- Being young with narrow eustachian tubes
Treatment
There are several preventive measures that you as a parent can take to better avoid an ear infection from developing. These include avoiding offending agents such as smoking around your child, as well as avoiding allergens.
If these avoidances aren’t enough, your child may require ear tubes.
What Are Ear Tubes?
Ear tubes, or a myringotomy, is a common and simple procedure that involves placing a small ventilation tube within the ear drum. This is designed to improve air flow and prevent fluid back up in the middle of the ear.
A myringotomy Is a short procedure that is done under light anesthesia in order to ensure optimal comfort for your child. The procedure is not permanent, and the ventilation tubes eventually fall out on their own. The most commonly used tubes stay in place for about 6 to 9 months, and require follow-up visits until they fall out. Oftentimes, the child has outgrown the problem at that point.
Contact Us
If your child is suffering from reoccurring ear infections, or you would like to know more about preventive measures and treatments that are available, reach out to the professionals here at Regional ENT Associates to learn more. Contact us today and schedule your consultation towards improved overall health! We look forward to hearing from you.
