3 Reasons Your Child Should See an ENT

An ENT, commonly referred to as an ear, nose, and throat specialist, diagnoses and treats many conditions involving the ear, nose, and throat. The medical name for such a specialist is an otolaryngologist. Anything from a sore throat with fever to frequent nosebleeds might warrant a visit to the ENT. Here are a few reasons to schedule an appointment for your child.

Has your child been experiencing frequent or recurring sore throats, often with an elevated temperature? If so, it may be time to seek the opinion of an ear, nose, and throat specialist. While it is common to experience a sore throat with a cold or viral infection, frequent sore throats may be due to inflamed tonsils. Tonsillitis may be caused by a viral infection, although bacteria may also be a cause.

Symptoms of tonsillitis include difficulty when swallowing, red and inflamed throat, and swollen glands or lymph nodes on the side of the neck. A fever may also be present. Surgical removal of the tonsils, a process referred to as a tonsillectomy, generally is necessary only when bacterial infections recur.

For mild cases, bed rest, increased intake of fluids, and gargling with warm salt water may help relieve the discomfort. If the doctor believes the tonsillitis may be caused by a bacterial infection, then they may prescribe antibiotics.

Sometimes inflamed tonsils are caused by the streptococcal bacteria. When affected by this strain, strep throat may follow. Left untreated, strep throat may cause serious complications, which is why the health care provider may prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.

Earaches are a common occurrence among young toddlers and school-aged children. If your child has been experiencing chronic earaches, schedule an appointment with the ENT to learn the root cause and get proper treatment for your child.

If your child has a middle ear infection or develops fluid in back of the eardrum, a painful earache may result. Colds sometimes cause earaches in children as well. If your child has been experiencing earaches frequently, the doctor might ask a few questions.

For instance, has your child been swimming a lot lately? In some cases, children will develop a condition known as swimmer's ear. This occurs when water enters the ear canal, allowing bacteria to enter. Swimmer's ear may be treated with antibiotics. Your child may also be advised to swim with earplugs for protection.

Another cause for frequent earaches is the excessive use of cotton swabs. Forcing a cotton swab inside the ear may cause damage to the ear canal. It is best to avoid this practice.

In any case, your ENT can determine the cause of your child's earaches and prescribe a treatment.

The ENT treats nosebleeds as well. The doctor will help you determine what is causing your child to have nosebleeds. Frequent nosebleeds in a child may be caused by several factors.

Dry air may irritate the nasal passages and cause the nose to bleed. In such a case, raising the household humidity with the use of a humidifier may help.

Colds, sinus infections and allergies sometimes cause nosebleeds, especially if your child has been blowing the nose or picking at it.

Sometimes nosebleeds are caused by other factors. If your child has some type of abnormality within the interior structure of the nose, nosebleeds may occur. The ENT can determine the best treatment. If your child has a chronic health condition affecting the respiratory system, this may also cause nosebleeds.

If you believe your child may be affected by any of the above mentioned conditions, schedule an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist as soon as possible.