Skip to main content

Posts

Featured post

My Child Swallowed a Coin — What Should I Do? Mr Gaurav Kumar | Consultant ENT Surgeon | London & Essex

  My Child Swallowed a Coin — What Should I Do? A Parent's Guide to Coins, Batteries and Magnets Your toddler is playing in the living room. A moment later, you notice a coin is missing. Your child coughs briefly, then seems perfectly normal. Did they swallow it? Could it be stuck in their throat? Will it pass naturally? Or should you take them to hospital? These are understandable concerns. Young children frequently explore objects by putting them in their mouths. Coins, small toy parts and other household items can occasionally be swallowed. The reassuring news is that many small, smooth objects pass through the digestive system without causing harm. However, not every swallowed object is safe. Button batteries, magnets, sharp objects and items stuck in the food pipe require particular attention. Knowing the difference can help parents respond appropriately. What happens when a child swallows a coin? When a child swallows a coin, it may travel from the mouth through the oesophagu...
Read more
Recent posts

White Lump Behind Child's Eardrum? | London & Essex ENT

  A White Pearl Behind My Child's Eardrum — Could It Be Congenital Cholesteatoma? Your child attends a routine appointment. Perhaps the GP is checking their ears after a cold. Maybe they have been referred for a hearing test. Or perhaps the examination is part of a school-age health assessment. The clinician looks inside your child's ear and notices something unusual. A small, white, pearl-like growth appears behind the eardrum. Your child has not complained of pain. There may be no ear discharge or history of ear infections. Naturally, you begin wondering: “What is this white lump?” “Could it affect my child's hearing?” “Is it something serious?” “Will my child need surgery?” One possible explanation is a condition called congenital cholesteatoma . Although uncommon, it's important to recognise because it can develop quietly, without the symptoms parents normally associate with ear disease. What is congenital cholesteatoma? A cholesteatoma is an abnormal collection of ...
Read more

Child Breathless During Sport? EILO vs Asthma | London ENT

  My Child Struggles to Breathe During Sport — Could It Be Their Voice Box Rather Than Asthma? Your child enjoys football, swimming or running. They are usually healthy and active. However, during PE lessons or competitive sport, something unusual happens. They suddenly stop exercising. They appear breathless. They may describe a tight feeling in their throat. Sometimes you hear a high-pitched noise when they breathe in. After a few minutes of rest, their breathing returns to normal. Perhaps they have already been assessed for asthma. Maybe they have been prescribed an inhaler, but the symptoms continue. Naturally, parents begin wondering: “Why does my child struggle to breathe during sport?” “Could this be asthma?” “Why does their throat feel tight?” “Should they stop exercising?” One possible explanation is exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction   (EILO) . This condition is increasingly recognised in children and teenagers who experience breathing difficulties during vigorou...
Read more

Child Lost Sense of Smell After a Cold? | London & Essex ENT

  My Child Cannot Smell After a Cold — Will Their Sense of Smell Come Back? Your child has recently recovered from a cold. The coughing has stopped. Their nose is no longer particularly blocked. They are back at school and seem otherwise well. But then something unusual happens. You offer their favourite meal, and they say: “I can't smell anything.” Perhaps they cannot recognise the smell of an orange, freshly baked bread or their usual shampoo. Another child may describe something different: “Everything smells horrible.” “My food smells burnt.” Naturally, parents begin wondering: “Has the virus damaged their sense of smell?” “Will it recover?” “Should we see an ENT specialist?” A reduced or altered sense of smell can occur following a respiratory infection. In many children, symptoms improve as the nose recovers. However, some children experience persistent symptoms that deserve further assessment. What is anosmia? Anosmia means a complete loss of smell. A child with anosmia may ...
Read more