In some situations, parents worry about ear infections because they tend to happen all of the time. Children who experience ear infections on a regular basis may need more advanced care. Ultimately, if your child is experiencing ear infections one after another, or multiple times a year, it is important to bring him or her into a specialist. By working with our ENT doctor, you can determine if the amount or frequency of these infections is worrisome and warrants taking additional steps.
Does Your Child Keep Getting Ear Infections?
Often times, children will experience ear infections quite readily. If they have an ear infection that keeps coming back, it is important to understand the underlying causes if there is one and to take steps to prevent those risks. For example, children who have them frequently should not be around people who smoke. They should also not go to bed with a bottle because this can lead to an increased level of risk.
In some cases, doctors will recommend that there are more advanced treatments needed when a child has five or six ear infections of the middle ear in a year. If this does happen, or medications do not seem to help, your child may need more advanced care. The most common option is to have a surgical tube inserted in the ear. This is a surgical procedure that will place a small tube for ventilation in the eardrum. It works to improve the amount of air flowing in and out of the year. And, ultimately, it works to prevent a fluid backup from occurring. This fluid backup is very commonly the cause of the ear infections for many children.
The tubes will stay in place in the year for six to nine months. Generally, they will remain present until they fall out. If, after they fall out, the child no longer suffers from the repeated ear infections, they may not need additional tubes. If they do, though, they may need to have the procedure again.
Keep in mind that the tubes themselves do not prevent the ear infections. Proper care and taking steps to prevent ear infections can ultimately be the best option for overcoming this risk.
When children need a specialized level of care, contact our ENT doctor in New York at 212-867-4813. Let us help you resolve your child’s ear pain.
