Did you know that one of the most common issues that parents bring their child to the pediatrician and ENT Specialists for is an ear infection. It seems that children suffer from them periodically and some kids have a more long term problem with ear infections. The middle ear is the area that is most commonly infected and it normally would require the patient to go on a series of antibiotics to treat it. The problem is that the more you take antibiotics the more your body will build up an immunity to it and it will no longer work. That is why a chronic ear infection may be better treated with a minor procedure. This will enable the patient to stop talking antibiotics at least for ear infections and also stop them occurring. A procedure seems like a scary thought for any parent to put their child through but there are some major benefits that are well worth it.
How Do EP Tubes Work: The problem with a middle ear infection is normally the fluid that your body naturally creates for the ear is not able to escape. The fluid is then stuck in that part of the ear and that is what will eventually cause an ear infection to occur. The doctor can give you antibiotics to treat it but as soon as you stop and the fluid builds back up, the infection can set right back in. When it is determined that your child is a good candidate for the PE tube procedure you should know what the procedure entails. The tube is going to be placed in the canal of the ear in the location that is not able to drain the fluid. They act as a stent for the fluid while protecting the part of the ear that is normally getting infected. The great thing is that the procedure is pretty minor and it will go by fast. Another added benefit is that the patient almost never has any discomfort at all and they cannot feel the PE tubes that have been placed. When your child is suffering from ear infections it can actually affect the hearing of that child and even the development of their speech as well. If they are unable to hear well the speech will also suffer. These tubes can increase their overall health, hearing and speech while giving them some relief from the constant fluid buildup.
Signs Your Child is Suffering from Ear Infections: The hard part about ear infections is that you can’t see anything on the outside of the ear to tell you that the ear is in fact infected. You have to go off your own instinct and the signs that your child gives you. You may notice them pulling on their ears, a fever, drainage that is coming out, headache and potentially they can have trouble hearing. One ear infection is not enough to have tubes placed but it is a good idea to keep track of how often they happen to help determine if ear tubes are an option.
ENT Specialists can determine the need for PE tubes as well as perform the procedure on your child (or yourself if needed) so call our office today.
