Common ENT problems in children and their treatment

Children are susceptible to ENT conditions because many structures within the regions of ear, nose and throat are immature and are prone to improper functioning. For example, the Eustachian tube in kids is shorter and does not open effectively until the child reaches puberty resulting in frequent middle ear infections. Data shows that more than 80% of children will have at least on ear infection by their age of 3! Further, sinuses are only fully developed with the age of 8 years and tonsils and adenoids are often too large and only shrink in the teens. Younger children also frequently do not complain of their symptoms, which result in many conditions being inadequately managed or left completely undetected.

Some of the most common ENT conditions that may affect your child:

1. External Ear Infections – swimming, sweating and excessive cotton bud usage predispose to painful bacterial infections of the skin of the outer ear canal. 
 Symptoms include severe pain in the ear.
2. Middle Ear Infection (Otitis Media) - upper respiratory tract infections (like in blocked nose) can track up the immature Eustachian tube and infect the middle ear. Symptoms include pain in the ear, fever and hearing loss.
3. Fluid in the Middle Ear (Otitis
 Media with Effusion, OME) - one of
 the functions of the Eustachian tube is
 to allow air flow from the nose into the middle 
ear so as to equalize the atmospheric pressure in the
 middle ear compartment. If this tube cannot perform this 
function effectively, fluid will fill the middle 
ear space in your child. Undetected, this condition may lead to permanent hearing loss. 
 Common causes of ineffective Eustachian tube functioning include large adenoids and sinusitis.
4. Allergy - up to 30% of children demonstrate symptoms of nasal allergy such as runny and blocked nose, sneezing and itchiness. The most common allergen in the world is the house dust mite. This is particularly observed in Dubai as many summer months kids exclusively spend indoors. Children can also be allergic to certain foods or spices.
5. Sinusitis - the maxillary sinus is the most often infected sinus in children, as maxillary sinuses are developed at birth while the rest of the sinuses develop later. Symptoms include persistent nasal discharge, blockage, cough and facial pain. 

6. Snoring and Sleep Apnea 
- palatine tonsils are adenoids in children are often enlarged. This results in narrowing of the upper airway causing nasal obstruction and mouth breathing. During sleep, snoring is loud with choking 
or gasping spells. Sleep is of poor quality and children wake up tired listless and sweaty. When the condition is severe and prolonged, behavioral changes such as irritability, temper tantrums and poor concentration are commonly observed.

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Sasa Janjanin M.D., Ph.D. is double European Board-certified in ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery. He extensively trained in complete surgical and medical treatment of patients with disorders and diseases of the head and neck. However, his major expertise is in facial plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery; problems related to thyroid and parathyroid glands; skin cancer; kid’s ENT problems; nose, sinus and snoring complaints; and sport and diving-related ENT problems.