If your child suffers from frequent ear infections and antibiotics have not been very effective, then your doctor may recommend the outpatient surgical procedure. It can reduce the impact of, and the recurrence ear infections in your child. To learn more about this treatment and your options, get in contact with your Glendale, AZ, ENT professionals Dr. Sudhir Agarwal, Dr. Ravi Agarwal, and Dr. Daniel Bos of Westside Ear, Nose & Throat, PC.
Ear Infections
Does it seem like children, in general, suffer from ear infections more than adults? This is very much the case as children have smaller eustachian tubes than adults. These are the pathways that help to regulate pressure within your inner ear.
When your child has a cold, or another respiratory condition, bacteria travels through the nasal cavity and through these pathways causing them to become infected. Once this happens, the inflammation can create fluid buildup which causes pressure, and with pressure comes pain.
Ear Tube Surgery in Glendale, AZ
Ear tube surgery addresses this problem by inserting very small plastic or metal tubes, referred to as tympanostomy tubes, in the eardrum to help alleviate the above-mentioned symptoms. These help to reduce the pain by reducing the pressure in the ear. They allow air to flow in and for fluids to drain.
They also make it easy to treat the area directly with antibiotic drops if necessary. The tubes last about 6 to 12 months and usually fall out on their own, so it's important to keep your follow-up appointments to make sure everything progresses correctly.
The surgery itself can take between 10 and 15 minutes but typically requires that it be done under general anesthesia, as the inner ear presents a set of challenges that make it necessary. Your child may experience some nausea immediately after because of it, but you can typically take them home on the same day. Most patients who have had the surgery tend to experience a significant reduction in the number of ear infections, and can more easily recover from them.
If you want to know if they can help your child then it's time to make an appointment, call Westside Ear, Nose & Throat, PC, in Glendale, AZ at (602) 938-3777.