Central Carolina HEALTH - Summer 2011 - (Page 10)

Help and worrisome, chronic ear infections are not uncommon among toddlers. “Chronic ear infections are infections, especially in infants ages 15 to 18 months old, that continue to return about every four weeks or so,” says William LeLiever, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist on staff at Central Carolina Hospital. “These infections are characterized by pain, fussiness and irritability. If these infections keep coming back over three months or so, that’s typically when we’ll see them.” Dr. LeLiever says a dysfunction in the eustachian tube, which connects the nasal cavity to the middle ear, is one of the more common causes of chronic infections. “The eustachian tube can get blocked due to adenoids or infections from allergies, or because the tube is immature or swollen, and that swelling or blockage will lead to a buildup of fluid in the middle ear,” Dr. LeLiever says. “To treat these kids, we need to drain the fluid and then treat the blockage if we can identify it.” 10 | S U M M E R 2 0 1 1 Hurting Though painful is fitted with a small tube to facilitate continuing drainage. “The results from the procedure are dramatic,” Dr. LeLiever says. “You see a reduction in infections, and an improvement in hearing and breathing.” The tubes are typically 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter, and Dr. LeLiever says they tend to come out on their own after about a year, although some require surgical removal. He said they’re painless and the benefits “far outweigh any risks.” Another common cause of chronic ear infections is a condition in which some children are born with a small piece of skin in their middle ear. This skin can commonly become infected and lead to blockages, Dr. LeLiever says, but noted that similar surgical procedures can easily address this issue. While Dr. LeLiever says toddlers ages 15 to 18 months are typically at risk, another peak for the issue is around age 4. When They’re If your young child is in constant pain due to chronic ear infections, treatment is available Tubes Provide Relief One common method for addressing chronic ear infections is myringotomy. During this brief, 10to 15-minute surgery, fluid is drained and the ear Nonsurgical Alternatives Surgery isn’t for everyone, and Dr. LeLiever notes that there are other techniques for addressing the issue, including continued antibiotic treatment and techniques for inflating the eustachian tubes over time. “We have a special device called an ear popper,” Dr. LeLiever says. “It essentially deals a measured amount of pressure, through the nose and therefore into the eustachian tube, which is then caused to widen over time. You use it every day for about four weeks, and if it works, it works well without having to resort to a surgical solution. But many parents are frustrated and want to help their children get out of pain more immediately.”

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Carolina HEALTH - Summer 2011

Central Carolina Health - Summer 2011
Table of Contents
Healthbeat
Fit for Life
Help When They're Hurting
Health Smart
Q+A
Women and Stroke

Central Carolina HEALTH - Summer 2011