Ear, Nose & Throat problems in Children (Paediatric ENT)
Children can experience many of the same ENT conditions as adults, but treatment for a young child often differs greatly from that of a adult. This is due to the fact that a child’s body is still growing - sometimes a treatment that is normally given to an adult can have harmful side-effects on a child's development. With three kids of his own, Dr. Chris has a good understanding of children's needs and what it means to be a parent. We deliver family friendly, care that puts children and parents at ease.
Ear infections
Ear infections are very common in small children (below the age of four). Most infections get better quickly and are not usually serious. Most ear infections in young kids involve the middle ear (otitis media).
Middle ear infections (acute otitis media)
As fluid collects behind the eardrum, it causes the drum to bulge, resulting in intense pain. Occasionally, the eardrum will bulge so much that it tears (this is called a burst eardrum), and you will see a thick yellow discharge come from the ear. When this happens, children often suddenly feel better, as the bulging has stopped. A burst eardrum normally heals without treatment. Children with middle ear infections often have a fever – sometimes a fever will be the only symptom of a middle ear infection.
Outer ear infections (otitis externa)
There can be discharge from the ear, or your child might complain of a feeling of fullness in their ear. The ear may be red and swollen. The redness may spread beyond the ear. The ear may be painful to touch and move and your child may have a fever.
Outer ear infections are usually due to excess moisture in the canal, for example after swimming. This is why another name for otitis externa is Swimmer's ear. Infection can also be caused by damage to the ear canal (e.g. from scratching or cleaning with earbuds).
Ear infections are very common in small children (below the age of four). Most infections get better quickly and are not usually serious. Most ear infections in young kids involve the middle ear (otitis media).
Middle ear infections (acute otitis media)
As fluid collects behind the eardrum, it causes the drum to bulge, resulting in intense pain. Occasionally, the eardrum will bulge so much that it tears (this is called a burst eardrum), and you will see a thick yellow discharge come from the ear. When this happens, children often suddenly feel better, as the bulging has stopped. A burst eardrum normally heals without treatment. Children with middle ear infections often have a fever – sometimes a fever will be the only symptom of a middle ear infection.
Outer ear infections (otitis externa)
There can be discharge from the ear, or your child might complain of a feeling of fullness in their ear. The ear may be red and swollen. The redness may spread beyond the ear. The ear may be painful to touch and move and your child may have a fever.
Outer ear infections are usually due to excess moisture in the canal, for example after swimming. This is why another name for otitis externa is Swimmer's ear. Infection can also be caused by damage to the ear canal (e.g. from scratching or cleaning with earbuds).
Glue ear (chronic otitis media)
Glue ear is not an infection, but often follows one or more middle ear infections.
Symptoms of glue ear include:
Glue ear is not an infection, but often follows one or more middle ear infections.
Symptoms of glue ear include:
- problems hearing – children may want to have things repeated, talk loudly or have the television up loud. Parents or teachers may notice this, especially in noisy places such as classrooms. In smaller children, hearing difficulties may delay their speech and language development.
- some pressure or pain in the ear
- irritability or problems sleeping
- problems with balance
A normal left ear drum
|
Chronic serous otitis media
|
Chronic mucoid otitis media
|
If fluid remains in the ears for longer than three months, or if your child is really struggling with repeated middle ear infections or speech development, your ENT doctor may suggest that small tubes be placed in the ears. This surgical procedure, called a myringotomy, involves making a small opening in the eardrum to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure from the middle ear. A small tube or grommet is placed in the opening of the eardrum to ventilate the middle ear and to prevent fluid from reaccumulating. The child's hearing is restored after the fluid is drained. The tubes usually fall out on their own after 6 to 12 months.
Your child's ENT surgeon may also recommend the removal of the adenoids (lymph tissue located in the space above the soft roof of the mouth, also called the nasopharynx). Removal of the adenoids has shown to help prevent recurrence in children with glue ear.
Your child's ENT surgeon may also recommend the removal of the adenoids (lymph tissue located in the space above the soft roof of the mouth, also called the nasopharynx). Removal of the adenoids has shown to help prevent recurrence in children with glue ear.
Nasal allergy (chronic allergic rhinitis)
Rhinitis is a common condition in which the lining of the nose becomes inflamed. This causes a blocked and/or runny nose, mucus dripping or accumulating in the throat (post-nasal drip), difficulties with smell, and in children, often a persistent cough.
Causes
The most common causes of allergic rhinitis in children are:
Controlling asthma may help control allergic rhinitis in some children.
SymptomsThe following are the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Rhinitis is a common condition in which the lining of the nose becomes inflamed. This causes a blocked and/or runny nose, mucus dripping or accumulating in the throat (post-nasal drip), difficulties with smell, and in children, often a persistent cough.
Causes
The most common causes of allergic rhinitis in children are:
- Pollen from trees, grass, or weeds
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Cockroach waste
- Animal dander
- Tobacco smoke
Controlling asthma may help control allergic rhinitis in some children.
SymptomsThe following are the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Sneezing
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears
- Nosebleeds
- Clear drainage from the nose
- Ear infections that keep coming back
- Snoring
- Breathing through the mouth
- Poor performance in school
- A line or crease across the bridge of the nose from swiping the nose
Tonsils, Adenoids & Snoring
Paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder in which your child's breathing is partially or completely blocked repeatedly during sleep. The condition is due to narrowing or blockage of the upper airway during sleep. There are differences between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and adult sleep apnea. While adults usually have daytime sleepiness, children are more likely to have behavioural problems. The underlying cause in adults is often obesity, while in children the most common underlying condition is enlargement of the adenoids and tonsils.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent complications that can affect children's growth, cognitive development and behaviour.
Both adults and children can get tonsillitis, and it can often feel like a bad cold or flu for the sufferer. Tonsillitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can be bacterial, and it can display various symptoms including headache, cough, earache, problems swallowing, hoarseness, a fever or high temperature, and feeling nauseous. A general sense of fatigue – feeling tired – is also common.
In young children you can manage symptoms by using the right dose of painkillers, cool drinks, and perhaps sprays or solutions to help manage a sore throat.
Tonsillitis may recur in children, and if the infection frequently returns, your doctor or a specialist can advise on the best course of treatment which will often require a daycase tonsillectomy procedure to improve quality of life.
Paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder in which your child's breathing is partially or completely blocked repeatedly during sleep. The condition is due to narrowing or blockage of the upper airway during sleep. There are differences between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and adult sleep apnea. While adults usually have daytime sleepiness, children are more likely to have behavioural problems. The underlying cause in adults is often obesity, while in children the most common underlying condition is enlargement of the adenoids and tonsils.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent complications that can affect children's growth, cognitive development and behaviour.
Both adults and children can get tonsillitis, and it can often feel like a bad cold or flu for the sufferer. Tonsillitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can be bacterial, and it can display various symptoms including headache, cough, earache, problems swallowing, hoarseness, a fever or high temperature, and feeling nauseous. A general sense of fatigue – feeling tired – is also common.
In young children you can manage symptoms by using the right dose of painkillers, cool drinks, and perhaps sprays or solutions to help manage a sore throat.
Tonsillitis may recur in children, and if the infection frequently returns, your doctor or a specialist can advise on the best course of treatment which will often require a daycase tonsillectomy procedure to improve quality of life.
