Does your baby have frequent ear problems? Let's talk about Ear Tubes!

Does your little one wake up at night and cry continuously? Does he constantly touch and pull his ear? Does he sometimes cry because he can't eat or drink milk? You must be very worried and scared about these things. Most of the time, these symptoms in a little one like this are due to an ear infection. It's okay to get it once or twice, but if this continues, then ear tubes are something that doctors suggest as a solution. Let's talk about this simply today.

What are these Ear Tubes?

Simply put, Ear Tubes are very small, like a small piece of tubing. To be precise, a very small tube that is placed over the eardrum. In medical science, these are called by several names such as `(Tympanostomy tubes)`, `(Ventilation tubes)`. These are usually made of plastic or metal.

The doctor makes a very small hole in the child's eardrum and inserts this tube through it. The main function of this is to drain the fluid/pus that accumulates in the middle ear and allow air to enter the middle ear. This reduces the pressure in the ear and largely controls the development of infections.

Why does a child need ear tubes?

Many parents wonder, "Why does my baby always have ear problems?" In fact, most children under the age of 5 will have at least one ear infection. This is because the Eustachian tube, which connects the ear to the throat in young children, is shorter and more horizontal than in adults. It's like a drain in our house. If this tube doesn't work properly, fluid can build up in the middle ear.

Imagine, when a child has a cold, this ``Eustachian tube'' swells and fills with mucus. Then the fluid cannot drain and gets stuck inside the ear. Places like this are the best environment for germs like bacteria and viruses to grow. This is the main reason why ear infections occur frequently.

If your doctor suggests ear tubes, there may be reasons for this:

Symptoms of an ear infection in a child

• Crying more than usual, constantly (especially when put down at night).
• Ear pulling, ear grabbing.
• Yellow or brown fluid or pus draining from the ear.
• Feeling like you are losing your balance, falling frequently.
• Fever.
• Not responding properly to sounds (due to poor hearing).
• Difficulty sleeping.

How is this surgery performed?

This is actually a very simple, minor surgery that takes about 15 minutes . It's called a ``Myringotomy'' or ``Tympanostomy''.

Most of the time, this is done on young children under general anesthesia. The reason for this is to keep the child from moving during the surgery. Since the child is asleep, he or she does not feel any pain. For adults, this can sometimes be done by numbing only the ear.

During surgery, the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon will do the following:

1. A very small, delicate incision is made in the eardrum using a laser or a small instrument.

2. All fluid accumulated in the middle ear is carefully removed (suction).

3. Then the ear tube is inserted into the small hole that was made.

The child can be taken home within a few hours after the surgery. If the child had any hearing loss, it will disappear as soon as the tube is inserted and they will start hearing well.

How do you prepare your child before surgery?

When your child is told that they are going to have surgery, they may feel as scared as you do. It is very important to prepare them mentally.

• Don't use scary words like "cutting your ear" or "piercing it." Instead, say something simple and non-threatening, like "The doctor is going to make a small window in your ear, and that will cure your earache."
• Instead of saying "I'm putting you to sleep," say, "The medicine the doctor is giving you will help you sleep well. When you wake up, everything will be over, and Mommy will be right next to you."
• Let him take his favorite toy or blanket to the hospital.
• Reassure him that you will always be there for him.

What happens after the surgery? And are there any risks?

The day after surgery, your child may feel a little tired and possibly nauseous. This is due to the anesthesia. This should go away completely within a day or two. If the fever is higher than 102°F (38.9°C), call your doctor right away.

For the first week after surgery, you may experience some blood-tinged fluid coming out of your ear. This is normal. However , if the yellow or brown pus-like fluid continues to drain for more than a week, if you have ear pain, or if you have any changes in your hearing, be sure to inform your doctor.

Although this is a very safe surgery, there are some risks that can occur very rarely:

• Scarring of the eardrum.
• The tube is blocked.
• The hole in the eardrum that formed after the tube was removed does not close on its own (this can also be corrected with a little treatment).
• Infection.

These are very rare, but it's important to be aware of them. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Benefits of Ear Tubes

The benefits to the child from this minor surgery are many.

• Ear infections are much less common. Even if they do occur again, they heal quickly.
• Hearing is recovering very well.
• As hearing improves, the child's speaking and learning abilities improve.
• As the constant pain disappears, the child's behavior improves and anxiety decreases.
• If you've been having trouble sleeping due to an earache, sleep will improve.
• There is no need to use antibiotics regularly.

Ear tubes are usually left in the ear for about 6 months to 2 years. As the eardrum heals, the tube will come out on its own. It is so small that sometimes you or your child will not even notice that it has come out.