Find out when ear tubes may be a necessary option for preventing future ear infections.
It’s fairly common for children under three years old to develop an ear infection. This is because their ears haven’t fully developed yet, making them prone to infection. Ear infections will either go away on their own or our Chesterfield MO otolaryngologist Dr. Paul Burk can treat them with antibiotics. Of course, some parents have to consider getting ear tubes for their children if they are dealing with persistent ear infections. Consider talking to your Ear Nose Throat Balloon Sinusplaty office today to learn more.
Does my child need ear tubes?
Ear tubes aren’t necessary unless your child deals with persistent ear infections throughout the year or their infections are severe. However, it is important to know when it might be time to consider ear tubes. While this is certainly something that our ENT doctor can discuss with you the next time you come into his Chesterfield MO practice, your child may be an ideal candidate for ear tubes if they are:
- Experiencing more than three infections within 6 months
- Experiencing more than four infections in one year
- Dealing with hearing loss due to recurring ear infections
Children of all ages can benefit from ear tubes, from infants to teens, so talk with your ENT doctor to find out if ear tubes may be the right choice for your little one.
Will ear tubes prevent infections?
While ear tubes won’t completely prevent ear infections, they will cut down on the number and severity of your child’s infections, which is why parents often find ear tubes invaluable if their little one is dealing with chronic ear infections.
What should we expect from the procedure?
This is a fast outpatient procedure that is performed under general anesthesia, so your child will be asleep throughout the procedure. The surgery itself only takes about 10 minutes and most children can go back to their normal routine the next day. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to use after surgery to prevent infection.
How long do ear tubes stay in?
The ear tubes will often stay in anywhere from six months to one year before falling out. Most of the time ear tubes will fall out on their own; however, it is possible that ear tubes will not fall out and your doctor may recommend leaving them in for more than one year. If your child develops severe and recurring ear infections again after the ear tubes have been removed, then your doctor might suggest placing another set of ear tubes.
If you want to sit down with our Chesterfield MO ENT doctor to determine whether ear tubes are the right way to address your child’s recurring ear infections, then call Ear Nose Throat Balloon Sinusplasty today at (314) 477-4995 to schedule a consultation.