Ear infection in children

How can I tell my toddler or child has an ear infection?

Ear infections are prevalent from the age of 3 months until the age of 5 years. Toddlers may become irritable, start pulling their ear, excessive crying, running a temperature, follow cold or flu, in some cases may be associated with flu, cold and cough. In some cases, they can also present with ear discharge.

Why do toddlers and children suffer from ear infections?

The ear is connected to the back of the nose with a tube called the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube is responsible for maintaining equal pressure on both sides of the eardrum. In toddlers and children, this tube is shorter and straiter. When a child gets flu or cold, the virus can lead to inflammation of eustachian tube and middle ear. On average, a child suffers from 6-8 flu or cold per year in the early years of their life as they develop their immunity.

When should I contact my doctor?

Most of the ear infections may settle down with self-help medication and may not need antibiotics. If a child has a persistent high temperature which is not getting better or fluctuant temperature lasting more than three days may need antibiotics. Once you start antibiotic always finish the treatment.

How can I prevent ear infections in children?

Vaccination has played an essential role in decreasing the incidence of ear infections in children. Keeping your child up to date with immunisation is vital. Make sure you were maintaining personal hygiene by regularly washing your hands, keeping the child away from smoke or anyone with flu-like symptoms. Breastfeeding helps with eustachian tube function and immunity and helps child against ear infection in the early years of life.

When should I take my child to an ENT surgeon for ear infections?

If your child keeps getting ear infections regularly, ear infections are affecting child's hearing, speech or balance, then you should make an appointment with ENT doctor. ENT doctor will examine the child's ear with a special camera called an otoscope. ENT doctor may offer surgically placing a ventilation tube called grommet in the eardrum. Grommets they stay on eardrum for 6-12 months and fall out on their own. The child will not feel grommet in the ear. In some children, the ENT surgeon may recommend treating adenoids in the same sitting.

Helping Patients with Specialist Expertise and Kindness

Mr Gaurav Kumar

Consultant Ear Nose Throat Surgeon

Book An Appointment

Book online

entsurgeonclinic@gmail.com

07494914140

Disclaimer: For general information only, always seek medical advice from treating consultant

LAX VOX

LAX VOX is a vocal therapy technique that can help improve voice quality, relaxation, and overall vocal health. It involves using a unique tube to create bubbling sounds while phonating. Here are the steps for practising LAX VOX: Relax and Focus on Posture and Breathing : Maintain a good posture with a long spine. Relax your face, neck, upper back, and chest muscles, allowing them to release toward gravity. Preparing for Bubbling with Phonation : Place a silicone tube (about 35 cm long and 9-12 mm in diameter) between or in front of your incisor teeth and above your tongue. Keep your tongue relaxed (imagine it as a piece of steak) and slightly touch the tube. Hold the water-filled bottle near your body to avoid using shoulder muscles. Inhale through your nose as if you’re yawning with your mouth closed. Prepare for phonation during exhalation, focusing on abdominal and lower back muscles. Finding the Target Voice : Create bubbling sounds with y...

Private Pediatric Coblation Tonsillectomy London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar

Private Pediatric Coblation Tonsillectomy London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar Coblation Tonsillectomy for Children: A Gentler, Less Painful Option in London and Essex When a child suffers from chronically enlarged tonsils that disrupt their breathing at night, or recurrent bouts of tonsillitis that cause high fevers and missed school days, surgical removal is often the most effective long-term solution. However, the prospect of a traditional tonsillectomy can make many parents incredibly anxious, primarily due to concerns over post-operative throat pain and a lengthy recovery period. Fortunately, modern surgical advancements have introduced a technique designed specifically to address these concerns: Coblation Tonsillectomy . If you are looking into private treatment options for your child outside of overstretched local NHS waiting lists, understanding how this gentle technology works can help you make an informed choice. This guide breaks down the benefits of coblation and how famil...

Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery: Day-by-Day Guide After Tonsil Surgery

Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery: What to Expect Day by Day Adult tonsillectomy can significantly improve quality of life for people struggling with recurrent tonsillitis, chronic sore throats or repeated throat infections. However, recovery after adult tonsil surgery is often more uncomfortable than many patients expect. Understanding the normal stages of recovery can help reduce anxiety and allow patients to prepare properly before surgery. This guide explains what adults commonly experience after tonsillectomy, how to support recovery safely, and when to seek urgent medical advice. Why is adult tonsillectomy recovery difficult? The tonsils sit in an area that moves constantly during swallowing, eating and speaking. After surgery, the throat heals gradually over approximately two weeks. Adults generally experience: Significant throat pain Pain when swallowing Ear pain (referred pain from the throat) Tiredness and reduced energy Disturbed sleep Temporary bad brea...

Child Keeps Clearing Their Throat? Causes & When to Check | London & Essex ENT

Why Does My Child Keep Clearing Their Throat? A Parent’s Guide “ Ahem… ahem… ahem. ” Once you notice your child repeatedly clearing their throat, it can become difficult to ignore. Perhaps it happens every few minutes while they watch television. Their teacher may mention it at school. Some children repeatedly sniff as well; others say they feel mucus in their throat or that “something is there”, even though they otherwise seem completely well. Parents naturally wonder whether this means allergy, enlarged adenoids, reflux, infection—or even something stuck in the throat. Persistent throat clearing in children has several possible causes , and the symptom pattern is often more informative than the sound itself. Sometimes nasal mucus irritates the throat. Sometimes the throat remains sensitive following a viral infection. In other children, repeated clearing gradually becomes a learnt or habitual behaviour. Throat clearing can also occur as a vocal tic. The important point i...

Earbuds vs Over-Ears: Which One Is Silently Damaging Your Hearing?

Headphones are no longer an occasional accessory—they’re part of daily life. From early-morning podcasts to late-night playlists, our ears are spending more time under acoustic load than ever before. But a question keeps coming up in clinics, classrooms, and conversations around ear health: Are earbuds worse for your hearing than over-ear headphones? Let’s move beyond opinion and aesthetics. By looking at sound pressure levels , hygiene , and long-term listening behaviour , we can reach a clear, evidence-informed conclusion. 1. Sound Pressure Levels: Distance Matters More Than You Think The single most important factor in headphone-related hearing risk is the amount of sound energy that reaches the inner ear . Earbuds (In-Ear Headphones) Sit millimetres from the eardrum Deliver sound directly into the ear canal Require lower absolute power , but often result in higher sound pressure at the cochlea Users tend to increase volume in noisy environments (commuting, g...

Having Functional or Cosmetic Rhinoplasty

The most important thing when considering Rhinoplasty surgery is to discuss with your surgeon the aim of the procedure and the outcome you will be satisfied with. It is important to discuss in detail about the procedure. Septoplasty or Rhinoplasty Septoplasty is the correction of cartilage division between left and right nostril. Rhinoplasty can be performed with septoplasty to correct the crooked nose, nasal hump and making the nose smaller. It can be performed to improve breathing by supporting the nasal valve area. Is Rhinoplasty covered by insurance? Rhinoplasty if performed for cosmetic reasons is not covered by insurance companies. Rhinoplasty can be performed to improve breathing and deformity due to trauma. It is important to check with the insurance company coverage of your insurance policy. What can be achieved in your rhinoplasty surgery? Rhinoplasty is a very complex surgery. It is very important to discuss achievable targets. ...

After your Epley manoeuvre — patient information leaflet

What this leaflet tells you This leaflet explains what to expect after the Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for posterior-canal BPPV, what you should and shouldn’t do, and when to seek help. 1. Quick summary — what the Epley did The manoeuvre moves tiny particles (otoconia) out of the balance canal of your inner ear and back into a place where they don’t cause spinning (vertigo). Most people feel much better after one or a few treatments. However BPPV can come back (recurrence is common). 2. How you may feel immediately afterwards You may feel dizzy or off-balance for a few minutes to a few hours; nausea is possible. Some people feel better straightaway; others get gradual improvement over days. Rarely ,you may have brief recurrences of vertigo — this does not always mean the manoeuvre failed. 3. Activity and posture — what the evidence says Good news: High-quality studies and recent guidelines show that strict he...

Guide to Topical Ear Drops: Safety, Perforations & Infection | London & Essex

Topical Ear Preparations: The Complete Guide to Safe Ear Drop Use, Infections, and Perforated Eardrums Whether you are dealing with swimmer’s ear after visiting a local pool, recovering from an itchy outer ear infection ( otitis externa ), or managing discharge from a chronic middle ear problem, the first-line treatment recommended across UK clinical guidelines (including NICE CKS) is almost always a topical ear preparation . Yet, for many patients across East London and Essex, standing in front of a medicine cabinet with a bottle of ear drops can trigger significant uncertainty: Which drops are safe if my eardrum is perforated? How do I get drops past a swollen, blocked ear canal? Why isn't my ear clearing up after days of treatment? Administering topical ear treatments effectively requires understanding the ear canal's delicate anatomy and following strict safety rules about middle-ear exposure. This guide explains how different ear drops work, how to apply them correctly,...

Voice Therapy Exercises for a Tight, Strained or “False Cord” Voice

ENT and Speech Therapy Advice for Patients in London and Essex A strained, effortful or rough voice can be frustrating and tiring. Some patients describe it as “talking from the throat”, “pushing the voice out”, “running out of breath”, or feeling that the voice is being squeezed. One common reason for this is muscle tension around the voice box . In some people, the false vocal folds — also called the ventricular folds — move too close together when speaking. These are not the main vocal cords used for normal voice. When they tighten or squeeze, the true vocal cords underneath may struggle to vibrate freely. The result can be a harsh, tight, weak, breathy or effortful voice. The good news is that many patients improve with a combination of ENT assessment and specialist Speech and Language Therapy , often called SALT or SLT . The aim is to reduce throat squeezing, improve airflow, and help the true vocal cords work with less effort. This article explains some commonly used voice the...

Bleeding After Child Tonsillectomy: Emergency Advice | London & Essex

Bleeding After Tonsil Surgery: The Safety Red Flags Every Parent Must Know Bringing your child home after a tonsillectomy is a moment of relief, marking the end of chronic infections or disruptive sleep apnoea. As you settle into the two-week home recovery period, your primary focus is usually on managing their throat soreness, keeping them hydrated, and ensuring they rest. However, there is one critical post-operative complication that demands every parent's absolute vigilance: post-tonsillectomy bleeding . While advanced techniques like low-temperature coblation tonsillectomy significantly lower surgical trauma, the throat remains a highly vascular area. Any amount of fresh bleeding after a tonsillectomy must be taken seriously. Parents should know exactly when to seek urgent medical help and never adopt a "wait and see" approach at home. This emergency guide breaks down how to identify a tonsil bleed and the exact rapid care pathways available across East London and...

ENT conditions (Mr Gaurav Kumar)

Search This Blog