"My Child Screams Every Time We Fly" — The East London, Brentwood and Essex Parent's Guide to Preventing Ear Pain (Otic Barotrauma) If you have ever watched your child clutch their ears and cry inconsolably on a flight—or seen them grow pale and distressed during the descent over the M25 or A127 corridor on the approach to the airport—you know exactly how heartbreaking and helpless that moment feels. Ear pain in children during air travel is one of the most common complaints raised in paediatric ENT clinics across East London, Brentwood and Essex. It is entirely natural for parents to feel anxious about booking family holidays when they dread the flight's final 30 minutes. The great news is that this distress is not something your family simply has to endure. The underlying issue is a highly manageable mechanical condition known clinically as otic barotrauma (pressure-induced ear injury), and it is entirely preventable in the vast majority of children with the righ...
Understanding Refractory Chronic Cough: What You Need to Know Have you ever faced a cough that simply refuses to subside? While most coughs resolve independently, some persist for an unacceptable length of time—weeks, months, or even years. This condition is known as refractory chronic cough (RCC), and it is a significant issue that demands attention in the medical community, especially among specialists in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) care. In this blog post, we will clearly outline what RCC is, why it occurs, and the most promising treatments available to those suffering from relentless coughing. What is Refractory Chronic Cough? A chronic cough is defined as one that lasts longer than eight weeks in adults. For many individuals, it is associated with conditions such as asthma, allergies, acid reflux, or certain medications. However, there are instances where the cough continues even after these underlying causes have been effectively ad...