The specialists at Northwest ENT & Allergy Center have extensive experience providing medical and surgical care to children of all ages to quickly and effectively treat their ear, nose and throat problems. Our caring staff ensures your child is comfortable during their evaluation and/or treatment. In addition, our convenient location keeps you close to home.
Ears
Middle Ear Infection
Middle ear infections are more common in children than adults. Children tend to have dysfunction of the Eustachian tube that equalizes the pressure in the ear, contributing to recurrent infections. Eustachian tube function generally improves by age two. Other contributing factors to ear infections can be allergies and adenoid enlargement.
Symptoms of a middle ear infection can include:
• Fever
• Pain
• Irritability
• Hearing Loss
• Drainage
Treatment: Antibiotics are frequently prescribed although recent evidence shows they may not be effective. When infections become too frequent and persistent, ear tubes may be placed into the eardrum under brief anesthesia. Tubes equalize pressure in the middle ear, often eliminating recurrent ear infections.
Serous Otitis Media (Middle Ear Fluid)
Serous Otitis Media, or fluid behind the eardrum, can have multiple causes.
Symptoms of Serous Otitis Media can include:
• Hearing loss
• Blocked sensation
Treatment: Your doctor will properly diagnose this condition and recommend a course of treatment.
Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear)
Swimmer’s Ear is an infection that occurs in the skin of the ear canal.
Symptoms can include:
• Pain
• Tenderness to the touch
• Drainage
Treatment: Antibiotic drops alone will frequently clear the infection. When the infection is more severe oral antibiotics, cleaning of the ear or placement of a wick in the ear canal to help the antibiotic drops reach the infection may be required. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment will get you back to health quickly.
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Tonsils/Adenoids
Millions of children are evaluated every year for enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can cause obstructive sleep apnea affecting breathing during sleep. Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include snoring, loud breathing, open mouth breathing, restless sleep, pauses in breathing during sleep, daytime sleepiness, crankiness and hyperactivity. Frequent throat and ear infections can also be a reason to remove the tonsils and adenoids.
Tonsillitis
The tonsils are two masses of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat. Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by infection.
Symptoms can include fever, sore throat and pain with swallowing. The tonsils may be enlarged, red and may have white spots on them. Acute tonsillitis usually resolves without antibiotics. However, recurrent and frequent tonsil infections may require removal of the tonsils. Enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids frequently cause obstruction. Signs of obstruction include snoring, poor sleep quality, interrupted sleep and irritability during the day.
A Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy is highly effective in resolving these symptoms.
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure recommended for patients experiencing frequent tonsillitis and strep throat, have difficulty eating or swallowing or suffer from sleep apnea. During the tonsillectomy the ENT surgeon will remove the tonsils, and in some cases the adenoids, to relieve the patient of repetitive illness.
Adenoidectomy
An adenoidectomy is performed under general anesthetic. Our ENT surgeon will remove the adenoids in order to restore normal breathing through the nose or relieve pressure in the ears. Patients suffering from difficulty breathing, sleep apnea or ear infections are typically recommended to undergo this surgery.
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Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Millions of Americans, including children, are affected by snoring. This can be an isolated problem or a symptom of more severe sleep disturbance such as obstructive sleep apnea. A thorough evaluation is needed to identify the sleep disorder and provide the best treatment options. For benign snoring, several office procedures under local anesthesia are available to improve snoring. Nasal obstruction can also contribute to snoring and may require additional medical or surgical treatments.
Sleep Apnea -- Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, where breathing stops or is suppressed during sleep.
Symptoms can include:
• Pauses in breathing
• Restless sleep
• Frequent awakening
• Daytime fatigue
• Unrefreshing sleep
Sleep apnea can result in a drop in the oxygen level in the blood during sleep causing significant strain on the heart and lungs. Contributing factors to sleep apnea include nasal obstruction, enlarged tonsils, elongated palate and weight gain. A thorough head and neck examination and sleep study are frequently used to diagnose this disorder. Several medical and surgical treatments are available. Learn more about sleep apnea treatments>>
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Hearing Loss>>
Signs & Types of Hearing Loss>>
Allergy & Sinus
Pediatric sinus disease is different from adult sinus disease and often has many causes. Allergic rhinitis, immunodeficiency, gastroesophageal reflux disease and adenoid enlargement/infection can all contribute to sinus disease in children and may require additional evaluation and treatment. Learn more about our allergy center>>
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Head & Neck Masses
Lumps and bumps in the head and neck can represent lymph nodes, benign masses or cysts or cancerous growths. Whenever a head and neck mass is identified, a thorough head and neck examination is the initial step in diagnosis and treatment. Further testing such as laboratory evaluation or CT scanning may also be necessary.
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