Which Kids Need Ear Tubes?
When a child has an ear infection, tiny tubes inserted in the eardrum can help remove fluid and prevent future infections. Tube placement is a safe procedure, but some experts now suggest waiting to see whether the problem recurs before having tubes inserted.
Thursday, September 1, 2005
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Durham, N.C. -- With childhood ear infections, the standard first course of
treatment is antibiotics. If the problem persists, small drainage
tubes can be surgically placed in the ear to help remove fluid and
prevent further infections. There is evidence that the hearing loss
associated with ear infections can cause delays in speech and
language development in some children. Debara Tucci, a pediatric
ear surgeon in the Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical
Center, says there’s typically no need for tubes unless the
infection is chronic and painful. “If a child either has
repeated ear infections, up to five or six a year, or if they have
an effusion of fluid in the middle ear space following an ear
infection that’s associated with hearing loss, and that situation
has lasted for three months, then I would recommend tube
placement.” Tucci says risks from ear tubes are minimal.
“I would say that about 95 percent of children who have tubes
placed do extremely well.” The bottom line? There’s probably
no need for tubes unless your child has chronic ear infections. In
that case, they can be highly effective. I’m Cabell Smith for
MedMinute.
