Ear, nose, and throat (E.N.T.) disorders among children are extremely common, and one of the main reasons that children go to see a physician. February is the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery’s Kids E.N.T. Health Month. The purpose of Kids E.N.T. Health Month is to spread awareness about ear, nose, and throat disorders in children.
One of the most common ear, nose, and throat disorders in children is an ear infection. In fact, ear infections are the most common reason nationwide that children are taken to see a doctor. Ear infections are classified based on which part of the ear is affected. An ear infection in the outer ear is called otitis externa. If the infection is in the middle ear, it is called otitis media, and in the inner ear it is called otitis interna. Some types of ear infections may cause hearing loss, but the hearing loss is usually temporary.
The most common type of ear infection in children is otitis media. The average toddler has otitis media two or three times a year, more often than not with a concurrent upper respiratory infection (URI). Children are extremely prone to otitis media when they have a URI because they have shorter eustachian tubes than adults, and a weaker immune response. Middle ear infections can cause intense pain when pressure builds up behind the ear drum. In some cases, the ear drum can actually rupture. Most cases of ear infection, including those with ruptured ear drums, heal completely on their own within a few weeks with no complications, however, an untreated infection has a chance of becoming a chronic infection. Antibiotic administration can shorten healing time and decrease the chance that the infection will return. Sometimes, small tubes are implanted in patients with chronic otitis media. These tubes reduce occurrence of ear infections within a six month period, but do not have a significant long-term effect.
Tonsillitis is another common E.N.T. problem in children. The inflammation of the tonsils is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, such as the common cold virus or streptococcus bacteria. The tonsil swelling causes pain when swallowing and a sore throat, and the infection can cause a fever. If the causative agent is bacterial, antibiotics may be used. If tonsillitis keeps returning, a tonsillectomy may be performed.
Children can also have E.N.T. problems that are more commonly found in adults, such as sleep apnea and acid reflux. Enlarged tonsils are one major cause of disordered breathing during sleep in children, and this problem is often remedied by performing a tonsillectomy.
Sinusitis in children can cause pain from headaches. The causes of sinusitis in children are similar to the causes of ear infections and tonsillitis. Sinusitis often occurs concurrently with the common cold. The paranasal sinuses in children are not fully developed, so the symptoms are different and often more subtle than the symptoms for sinusitis in adults.
E.N.T. infections are extremely common in young children, and many of these conditions can cause significant amounts of pain. Not all cases can be treated with antibiotics or surgery. In the case of a viral ear infection, for example, symptomatic treatment with over-the-counter pain medication is the only effective option.
