Ear infections are an extremely common pediatric complaint. Symptoms you may see in children with ear infections may include, but are not limited to:
- Ear pain
- Crying
- Fussiness
- Trouble sleeping
- Poor hearing
- High fever
- Fluid drainage from the ear
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
While ear infections are less common in adults, they may exhibit many of the same symptoms as children.
While most ear infections go away on their own, chronic or frequently recurrent infections may require intervention. Ear tube surgery is one effective treatment method to help prevent ear infections in your children.
Let’s take a look at what ear tube surgery is and what you can expect from the procedure.
How Do Ear Tubes Work?
Ear infections occur when fluid builds up in the middle ear from a blocked Eustachian tube—the tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. Ear infections are so common in children because they have narrow Eustachian tubes, which are prone to blockage. Ear tubes help compensate for the narrow Eustachian tubes by promoting better drainage.
When inserted in the ear canal, ear tubes promote airflow to the middle ear and reduce the likelihood of blockages and fluid build-up. A study on the procedure and effectiveness of the surgery found that the tubes greatly improved quality of life, reduced the prevalence of ear infections by 33% and improved the average hearing by 5 to 12 decibels.
Common Procedure Expectations
Ear tube placement is a relatively simple 15-minute surgery. Most surgeries will follow these five steps:
- The surgeon will put your child under general anesthesia.
- The surgeon will cut a small incision in the eardrum with a scalpel or laser.
- The surgeon will drain fluid from the middle ear.
- The surgeon will place the tube in the eardrum.
- Your child will likely recover in the clinic for one to two hours before going home.
After surgery, monitor your child’s recovery and follow post-op instructions carefully. This may include administering antibiotics, attending follow-up appointments or having your child wear earplugs near or in water. With proper follow-up care, your child should be back to playing at Lorenzi Park with their friends in no time.
For questions regarding treatment, contact Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute today to speak to one of our ear, nose and throat specialists.
Call Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute at (702) 735-7668 for more information or to schedule an appointment.