Paediatric ENT

EAR

Your child may have complained of ear pain, itch or you have noticed a foul smelling discharge, redness or swelling around or in the ear. Children with hearing loss may not know that they are unable to hear. Speech, language, social development and academics maybe subtly affected. It is important to consult ENT to rule out any underlying congenital causes, and if nasal conditions are associated

Otoscopy, microscopic examination under magnification and ear cleaning are commonly performed if you child has a ear infection. Age appropriate hearing test and nasal examination are performed when necessary.

NOSE

Nasal allergies and sinus infections are common in children. Symptoms include itchy, runny nose, nose bleed, blocked nose, snoring, mouth breathing, drooling past appropriate age, cracked lips, itchy eyes and eczema. It is important to treat the nose adequately in your child as persistent nasal symptoms are related to conditions such as asthma, snoring, sleep apnea, ear infections, dental and facial malalignment. An ENT consult with nasoscopy is advised if your child’s nasal symptoms are persistent.

THROAT

A child with throat problems can present with throat discomfort, poor feeding, bad breath, decreased appetite, chronic cough or breathing problems. You may have noticed a lump in your child’s mouth or tongue. An early ENT consult is advised if your child has the above symptoms. In addition, voice disorders are also common in children. Management frequently involves behavioural and lifestyle changes.

NECK

It is advisable to consult an ENT doctor if your child has a head and neck lump. These swellings may be present at birth or have developed in the growing years, increasing in size, painless or painful, skin-coloured or bluish, or are recurrent and persistent despite medication. Imaging scans maybe required in some cases.