Skip to main content

Featured post

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...

Understanding Mastoiditis in Kids: A Parent's Guide!




 Parenting comes with its share of concerns, and ear infections are no exception. Today, let's shed light on a specific concern: Mastoiditis in children. 🧒👂

 

🔍 What is Mastoiditis?

Mastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear. It often develops as a complication of untreated or inadequately treated ear infections, particularly those affecting the middle ear.

 

🚨 Signs and Symptoms:

 

Ear Pain: Children may express discomfort or pain around the ear area.

Fever: Elevated body temperature is common during mastoiditis.

Swelling Behind the Ear: The mastoid bone may become swollen and tender to the touch.

Drainage from the Ear: Pus or fluid drainage from the ear is a notable sign.

👩‍⚕️ When to Seek Medical Attention:

If your child exhibits any of the mentioned symptoms, it's crucial to consult a healthcare professional promptly. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing complications.

 

👉 Treatment Approaches:

 

Antibiotics: Typically prescribed to combat the bacterial infection. In some cases may need hospital admission for antibiotics to be given directly into blood.

Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers may be recommended for comfort.

Warm Compress: Applying a warm compress can alleviate discomfort.

🚨 Cautionary Note:

Mastoiditis requires prompt attention. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including hearing loss or the spread of infection to nearby tissues.

 

🔗 Prevention Tips:

 Timely Ear Infection Treatment: Promptly treat ear infections to reduce the risk of complications.

Regular Ear Check-ups: Schedule regular check-ups to monitor your child's ear health.

🌈 Empowerment through Knowledge:

Understanding mastoiditis empowers parents to recognize signs early on. Remember, your child's health is the priority, and timely intervention ensures a smoother recovery!

 

💬 Share your experiences and questions below! Let's support each other in navigating parenthood. #MastoiditisAwareness #EarHealthForKids #ParentingInsights #ChildHealthMatters


MR GAURAV KUMAR
EAR NOSE THROAT CONSULTANT

Book Appointment



Call

07494914140


Follow on Instagram








Popular Post

Coblation Tonsillectomy

Hi Guys, Let us talk about your tonsils and adenoids. Tonsils and adenoids are part of the immune system and help fight germs. Sometimes these tissues become infected and is called tonsillitis. When you have tonsillitis, you can feel sore to eat and drink, have the temperature, and can even have difficulty in breathing. This can be treated by a procedure called Tonsillectomy. Mr Kumar may advise you to have your tonsils removed if you have tonsil stones, if your airway is blocked due to large tonsils making you choke at night ie sleep apnoea or one tonsil is bigger than other. Tonsillectomy can be done by the traditional techniques using cold steel, electrocautery or coblation.  Cold steel and elctrocautery has moderate to severe pain in postoperative period. With new coblation technique, post operative pain is very low leading to quicker recovery.  Coblation is an advanced technology that combines gentle radiofrequency energy with natural saline — to quickly, and safely r...
Read more

Boil in the Ear canal can be very painful...

How do I know I have boil in the ear canal? The ear canal is lined by skin up to the eardrum. Skin in the outer third of the ear canal has hair follicles. Hair follicles can get infected with bacteria and can form boil or furunculosis. It is challenging to look in our own ear canal. You can only feel a bump in the ear canal entrance which is tender to touch. Why is so painful when we have boil in the ear? Ear canal skin is very tightly attached to underlying cartilage. So any swelling in the skin stretches it and makes it very sore to touch. How do we get boil in the ear canal?  Most common causes of boil in the canal is dryness of the skin and trauma. Dry skin leads to cracks and these cracks can get infected. People who use dry earbuds, fingers, towel edges or pens and traumatise ear canal skin, which can get infected with bacteria. How do I release the temptation of using earbuds? Some people can get very dry skin due to sensitivity to soup, shampoo o...
Read more

Retracted Ear Drum

  What Is a Retracted Eardrum? A retracted eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane retraction, is a condition where the eardrum (tympanic membrane) is pulled inward or drawn backwards from its normal position. The eardrum is a thin, delicate membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the outer ear to the middle ear, where the auditory ossicles (small bones) are located.   Under normal circumstances, the eardrum is slightly concave and positioned at an angle that allows it to respond to changes in air pressure. The Eustachian tube, a tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat, helps equalize pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment.   However, in cases of a retracted eardrum, the Eustachian tube might not function correctly or become blocked, leading to an imbalance in pressure. When negative pressure builds up in the middle ear, it causes the eardrum t...
Read more

Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SCDS)

🔍 Unlocking the Mystery of Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SCDS) 🌀✨ It's a rare condition that affects the inner ear, and here's the lowdown:   Cause: SCDS occurs when one of the bony canals in the inner ear, particularly the uppermost semicircular canal, doesn't close or thicken properly during fetal development.   Symptoms:   Hearing Loss: It's a common symptom of SCDS. Sound Distortion: Ever feel like sounds aren't quite right? That could be SCDS at play. Balance Problems: SCDS can throw your balance off, making you feel unsteady. Autophony: Imagine hearing your own heartbeat or breathing louder than usual. That's autophony. World Tumbling Sensation: Loud noises or pressure changes might make you feel like the world is spinning. Diagnosis and Treatment:   CT Scans: A specialist might use these to spot SCDS, but other tests are crucial too. Hearing Tests: Essential for accurate diagnosis. Treatment: Surgery may be necessary for severe symptoms. ...
Read more

Bleeding From Ears

  Why is my Q-tip bleeding from my ear?   It can be alarming if you've ever noticed blood on your Q-tip after cleaning your ears. Here are a few reasons why this might happen:   🚫 Avoid Inserting Q-tips Too Deep: The most common cause of bleeding is inserting Q-tips too far into the ear canal. This can lead to irritation, scratches, or even damage to the delicate ear tissues.   🩹 Ear Injuries or Scratches: Vigorous or improper cleaning can cause small injuries or scratches inside the ear canal. These injuries may result in bleeding when you use a Q-tip.   🩸 Ear Infections: Infections like otitis externa or swimmer's ear can make the ear canal more sensitive. Cleaning during an active infection can cause bleeding.   🔄 Wax Impaction: Excessive earwax can cause blockages, leading to a feeling of fullness and impaired hearing. Attempting to clean it out with a Q-tip may cause bleeding, especially if the wax is impacted.   👂 What to Do...
Read more

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...
Read more

Thinking of having sinus surgery.....

ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY WHY DO I NEED SINUS SURGERY? Sinus surgery is needed if your sinus symptoms do not respond to medical treatment and lifestyle changes. It is important to understand that you may still need medical treatment in the form of irrigation with/ without steroid spray. You should discuss this in detail with your operating surgeon during your preop consultations. WHAT ARE COMPLICATIONS OF SINUS SURGERY? It is very important to discuss possible complications of surgery and how it impacts your quality of life and profession. • Bleeding - Bleeding is a risk of any operation.  It is very common for small amounts of bleeding to come from the nose in the days following the operation.  Major bleeding is extremely uncommon and it is very rare for a transfusion to be required. • Eye problems - The sinuses are very close to the wall of the eye socket.  Sometimes minor bleeding can occur into the eye socket and this is usually noticed as some ...
Read more

Quinsy Abscess

 How to tell the difference between tonsillitis and quinsy? 🤔🩺 Tonsillitis vs. Quinsy: Spotting the Differences 🩺🤔   Feeling under the weather with a sore throat? It's essential to know the difference between tonsillitis and quinsy. Here's how to tell them apart:   1. Tonsillitis:   Symptoms: Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, swollen tonsils with white or yellow patches, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and possibly a cough and hoarse voice. Cause: Usually viral or bacterial infections, such as the common cold or strep throat. Treatment: Rest, hydration, over-the-counter pain relievers, and sometimes antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis. 2. Quinsy (Peritonsillar Abscess):   Symptoms: Severe sore throat on one side, difficulty swallowing, fever, drooling, muffled voice, swollen tonsil on one side, swollen uvula, and possibly a visible abscess on the tonsil. Cause: Complication of untreated or inadequately treated tonsillit...
Read more

Ossiculoplasty Surgery - Restoring Your Hearing

  Ossicular Reconstruction (Ossiculoplasty) Patient Information Leaflet 1. Why am I being offered ossicular reconstruction? You have hearing loss caused by damage or disruption to the ossicles — the three tiny bones in the middle ear ( malleus, incus, and stapes ) that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. This damage may be due to: Chronic ear infections Cholesteatoma Previous ear surgery Long-standing eardrum perforation Trauma or erosion of the hearing bones Ossicular reconstruction (ossiculoplasty) is a surgical procedure designed to improve hearing by rebuilding this sound-conduction mechanism. 2. What is ossicular reconstruction? Ossiculoplasty involves repairing or replacing one or more of the hearing bones using either: Your own tissue (e.g. reshaped ossicles or cartilage), or A biocompatible prosthesis (most commonly titanium) The operation is usually performed alongside: Eardrum repair (tympanoplasty), and/or Mastoid surgery (especially if cholesteatoma i...
Read more

"Naseptin: Powerful Defence Against Nasal Bacteria!"

  Everything You Need to Know About Using Naseptin Nasal Cream   If you've been dealing with nasal issues, you may have come across Naseptin nasal cream as a potential solution. Whether you suffer from recurrent nasal infections (vestibulitis), nose bleeds or simply need some relief from nasal dryness, Naseptin can be a valuable aid. In this blog, we'll cover everything you need to know about using Naseptin nasal cream to ensure you get the best results from this trusted product.   Unlocking the Power of Naseptin Nasal Cream: A Guide to Its Versatile Uses   Naseptin nasal cream, a powerful ally in nasal health, holds the key to treating infections caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This versatile cream offers much more than meets the eye, and we're here to shed light on its incredible benefits! 🌟 👃 Kicking Nose Infections to the Curb: Say goodbye to those troublesome nose infections! Naseptin comes to the rescue, targeting staphylococcal bacteria and...
Read more