Paediatric ENT

Pediatric ENT Surgery in Hyderabad, India

Paediatric ENT or Paediatric Otolaryngology deals with ear, nose, and throat infections in children. A paediatric ENT looks after medical or surgical issues or ear, nose and throat of children. The patients can be newborns as well. A paediatric ENT  may also look into the issues of head and neck or any birth defects related to these areas. ENT problems are very common among children and parents often need to make constant visits to a paediatric  ENT specialist. The paediatric ENT team can be consulted for common ear, nasal, mouth, head and neck issues or more serious problems that may require surgery. Children with speech issues can also benefit from consulting a paediatric ENT.

Types of Paediatric Otolaryngology Conditions

ENT specialists can be consulted for a number of conditions related to ear, nose, throat, head and neck diseases and infections in newborns and children. Some of these conditions are:

• Rhinology: The most common infections that children suffer from are related to their noses and sinuses. Paediatric ENTs therefore mostly encounter patients with sinusitis, runny nose, cold, cough, and symptoms related to flu like stuffy nose, loss of smell and taste, etc. ENTs will also look after any strange growth in the nose or problems related to nosebleeds etc. 
• Ear-related conditions: Children with hearing issues or defects in their ear must also consult paediatric ENTs. 
• Infections and allergies: Another common type of infection in children is ear infections. Children often complain of earaches which are also treated by paediatric ENTs. A few other common infections include tonsillitis, asthma, and allergies. Allergies often cause itchy eyes, tickling in the throat, itchy and painful ears, swelling of the face, dry and red eyes, runny nose, etc. 
• Birth Defects: Specialist Paediatric Otolaryngologists also look into any birth defects that are related to the head and neck.
• Speech problems: Speech problems are also common in many children. Issues like tongue-tie and vocal cord malfunctions. Thus children with speech problems may also consult an otolaryngologist. 
  • Sleep problems: Sleep problems that are associated with breathing like snoring and apnea may be treated by ENTs who specialise in sleep problems.
• Tumours: Tumours in the head or neck and other related areas in children. 

Why are ENT Problems so common in Children?

It's completely normal for children to experience illness, a natural part of their growth and development. Here are some reasons why your child may frequently fall ill:

1. Children are more susceptible to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues due to their ongoing physical development and an immune system that is not yet fully matured, making them prone to infections from viruses and bacteria.
2. The Eustachian tubes, small passages connecting the throat to the middle ear, have a primitive shape and size in children aged 6 months to 2 years, making them particularly sensitive to ear infections.
3. Children often encounter new people
4. le regularly, exposing them to a higher risk of infections as they come into contact with various bacteria and viruses.
5. Factors such as feeding children bottled milk while lying down, the use of pacifiers, exposure to cigarette smoke, and a family history of infections can also contribute to their susceptibility to illnesses.

Common ENT Problems In Children

ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) problems are common in children due to their developing anatomy and immune systems. Here are some common ENT problems in children:

• Ear Infections: Inflammation of the middle ear, often associated with fluid accumulation. Children, especially those between 6 months and 2 years old, are more prone to ear infections due to the anatomy of their Eustachian tubes.
• Tonsillitis: Tonsils are part of the immune system and can become infected, leading to sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and sometimes obstructive sleep apnea.
• Adenoiditis: Adenoids are lymphoid tissues located at the back of the nasal cavity. Infections can cause nasal congestion and breathing difficulties.
• Allergic Rhinitis: Allergic reactions to pollen, dust, or pet dander can cause symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
• Sinusitis: Infections or allergies can lead to sinusitis, causing symptoms like nasal congestion, facial pain, and discolored nasal discharge.
• Strep Throat: Streptococcal bacteria can cause throat infections, leading to symptoms like severe sore throat, fever, and difficulty swallowing.
• Cleft Lip and Palate: Malformations in the lip and/or palate can affect speech, feeding, and ear health.
• Laryngomalacia: Common in infants, this condition can cause noisy breathing due to the collapse of the soft tissues of the larynx during breathing.
• Swimmer's Ear: Otitis Externa: Infection of the outer ear canal, often associated with water exposure, leading to pain and inflammation.

Treatments offered by CARE Hospitals

CARE Hospitals have a dedicated ENT department along with paediatric specialists that are specially trained to treat conditions like Sleep Apnea, Sinus Disease (Sinusitis), Nasal Deformities, Ear Infection (Otitis Media), Lymphatic Malformations, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR), Laryngomalacia, Hearing Loss or Impairment, Head and Neck Masses, Feeding and Swallowing Problems, Chronic Tonsilitis, and Chronic Ear Disease. 

CARE Hospitals experts offer the following treatments related to otolaryngology

1. Cochlear Implant: Cochlear implants are becoming increasingly popular for patients who suffer from severe or partial hearing loss, including children and newborn babies. It is essentially a device that is used to amplify the sound. It has two parts and one is placed behind the ear while the other one is surgically bypassing the damaged portions of the ear.

2. Frontal Sinus Surgery: This is another surgery that is aimed at treating obstructed sinuses. The surgery reroutes the sinus pathways and also if there is any damaged tissue, it is removed.

3. Laryngectomy: Many types of cancers and tumours related to the throat are removed using a laryngectomy. It essentially removes the larynx or the voice box either partially or completely depending on the requirement of specific patients.   

4. Otoplasty: It is a cosmetic procedure that is used to improve the shape, size and appearance of the external ear.

5. Skull Base Surgery: The surgery is performed if any cancerous or tumorous growth is located near the base of the skull and needs to be removed.

6. Septoplasty: A deviated septum causes frequent nose blocks causing restricted airflow. Septoplasty is performed to correct a deviated septum. In this procedure, the surgeon cuts and removes certain parts of the septum before reinserting it back to its original position.

7. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Patients who suffer from acute or chronic infective sinusitis may have to go through Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in which normal sinus functioning and ventilation is restored using a minimally invasive procedure.

8. Tonsillectomy: Sleep-disordered breathing, enlarged tonsil problems, inflammation of the tonsils, and other tonsil related diseases can be treated by performing a tonsillectomy in which the tonsils of the patients are removed.

9. Rhinoplasty: It is a surgical procedure that aims to improve the appearance and/or functioning of the nose. Rhinoplasty is also advisable for patients who suffer from breathing issues due to the shape of their noses.

10. Myringoplasty: This surgery is performed to treat perforation of the eardrum. The eardrum may get perforated due to an infection or some kind of trauma. The doctors take a tissue graft and carefully place it over the earhole. The graft may be taken from anywhere on the patient’s body or gel-like material.

How can CARE Hospitals help?

CARE Hospitals has experts in otolaryngology as well as expert paediatricians who work together to treat ear, nose, throat, head, and neck issues in children. Along with the expertise of doctors, the state-of-the-art infrastructure, the latest technological medical tools, and dedicated care provided for children makes CARE Hospitals the best option for children who need otolaryngologists. Our skilled doctors are trained to provide sensitive care to their patients. CARE Hospitals aim to provide not only the best treatment but also make it affordable for its patients. Moreover, CARE Hospitals provide the best tools and services to screen hearing and other related issues in newborns. The neonatal screening provided by CARE Hospitals helps in the early detection of hearing loss. At CARE Hospitals, we also provide surgical and therapeutic audiological procedures for newborns and children. We also have a well-established audiology, cochlear implant surgery and rehabilitation expert team to provide the best service to our patients.