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.