My Child has Ear Pain: How To Get Better!

Ear pain in children in Singapore is pretty common and we see many cases at our paediatric ENT clinic in Singapore. As a parent, what can you do about ear pain or earache in your child? You should not dismiss ear pain in a child as just earwax, especially if he or she is unwell or has a fever. In fact, you should worry that ear pain in your child may be due to a severe eardrum infection.

IS IT A DEEPER EARDRUM INFECTION?

An eardrum infection (Acute Otitis Media) may occur after a recent episode of the flu or a bad cold. So eardrum infections in Singapore are more common in children than adults. Although eardrum infections usually get better with antibiotics, it doesn’t always happen. Therefore we also prescribe painkillers because ear infections can be extremely painful. Parents, please use Brufen for better pain relief in children with ear infections!

Sometimes, eardrum infections (Acute Otitis Media) in children may worsen despite the oral antibiotics prescribed. Children with nasty eardrum infections may need to go to hospital in Singapore to receive intravenous antibiotics through a special “drip”. The concern is that some middle ear infections in Singapore may worsen to become mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear). If this happens, then it is much more serious as it may turn into a collection of pus (abscess).

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE EAR INFECTION DOESN’T GET TREATED EARLY?

If eardrum infections are left untreated, they may worsen to cause more serious complications. Therefore, the risk of complications affecting the brain, which just sits above the ear, increases with untreated middle ear infections. After all, the brain is separated from the ear by a thin layer of bone. So these children can be rather ill so eardrum infections should be treated promptly. Sometimes, imaging in the form of an MRI scan or CT scan may be necessary.

Some children with severe eardrum infections may need the infected fluid or pus trapped behind their eardrum drained under general anaesthesia. We would consider inserting a tiny ventilation tube (grommet) into the eardrum to keep the drainage route open. This ventilation tube for the ear prevents the drainage hole from closing too early. Don’t worry, the ventilation tube is temporary. The eardrum will naturally push out the ventilation tube after 9 to 12 months. The remaining tiny hole usually closes up by itself.

https://www.drannabelle.com/ear-hearing-ent-specialist.html#ear-blockage

WHY DOES MY CHILD KEEP GETTING RECURRENT EAR INFECTIONS?

Recurrent acute otitis media or eardrum infections may be due to the presence of enlarged adenoid tissue, which grows behind the nose. The swollen adenoids may block the natural openings of the Eustachian pressure tubes. The Eustachian tubes join the back of the nose to the space behind the eardrum (middle ear).

This is why in some cases of recurrent ear infections or recurrent acute otitis media in Singapore, we would consider removal of the enlarged adenoid tissue as well as the insertion of ventilation tubes into the eardrums. Adenoid surgery is safe and quite painfree. It helps to remove the underlying source of recurrent nose and ear infections, allowing the Eustachian tubes to recover. If the adenoids are large enough to block the airway, then removing the adenoids will help your child to breathe more clearly and sleep better.

To find out more about eardrum infections and the adenoids, please click on the link below.

https://www.drannabelle.com/childrens-ent-doctor-ear-nose-throat-problems.html

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