Getting sick is pretty normal for kids as their immune system develops, and your pediatrician can manage and treat most minor ear, nose and throat issues. But if your child’s health problem won’t go away, worsens, or starts to impact their daily life, they need the next-level care that an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist can provide.
Find out when you need to seek the expertise of an ENT for certain conditions:
EAR INFECTIONS
If your child experiences more than three ear infections in six months, your primary care provider may refer them to an ENT. An ENT will conduct a thorough ear examination, ear canal cleaning and may recommend a hearing test.
Ear tubes are an effective treatment for frequent ear infections; they reduce inflammation (otitis media) and fluid buildup (effusion) in the ear. Our ENT providers can help you decide if ear tubes are the right solution for your child.
NOSEBLEEDS
Chronic nose bleeding, also called epistaxis, is often the result of trauma, dryness or inflammatory disease. Common treatments include using saline spray, humidifiers, and Vaseline. See an ENT if nosebleeds continue despite treatments. An ENT can identify the bleeding site and cauterize it the same day.
TONSILLITIS
Tonsil infections are most common in children between four and seven years of age. See an ENT when your child experiences frequent or chronic tonsillitis, when only one tonsil is affected or when the tonsils become so enlarged they cause difficulties with swallowing or breathing.
SLEEP APNEA
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can cause sleep apnea in children. If your child snores loudly, pauses in breathing while sleeping, is overly sleepy during the day or breathes through their mouth, they may have sleep apnea. Other symptoms include bed-wetting, sleepwalking, behavioral problems, and morning headaches. ENTs are specially trained to diagnose and treat sleep apnea, so ask your pediatrician for a referral if you think your child may have this condition.
SINUS INFECTIONS
Sinus infections, also called sinusitis, are often caused by cold, flu, allergies, or infections. See an ENT when your child suffers from symptoms that last more than two months or continue to return after treatment.
TONGUE TIE
If your baby or toddler has tongue tie, or ankyloglossia, their tongue is ‘tied’ to the floor of the mouth, potentially inhibiting speech and eating. Your pediatrician can diagnose tongue tie, but they will likely refer you to an ENT for treatment. The ENT can correct the tongue tie by performing a frenotomy, a quick, in-office procedure.
Every parent wants to get the proper treatment for their child as soon as possible. Our expert pediatric ENT team is here to help.
Call us today to schedule an appointment.
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