What to Do when your Child Has a Draining Ear Problem

An ENT doctor checking the draining ear issue of a child

As a parent, many things can be frustrating when it comes to your child’s health. There’s no worse feeling than seeing or hearing your child in pain or discomfort and not knowing how to help them, especially when it involves ear infections and constant drainage. What are the causes of draining ears in children? What causes an ear infection? What are my options for treatment of draining ear? When should I be concerned? Who do I turn to? These are all great questions and with the right answers could set your mind at ease the next time you have a child with an ear problem.

A Lot Can Happen

Causes of draining ear differ depending on a lot of different reasons. Most commonly the cause of draining ear is due to earwax buildup or sinus drainage. Other conditions might lead to fluid draining out of your child’s ear as well such as ear trauma or even an infection, but it is important not to let yourself jump to conclusions and let a doctor examine further. Sometimes when the ear cannot drain properly your child may experience an ear infection which is caused by fluid getting trapped in the inner ear. Some key signs of an ear infection may include soreness or pain in the ear, fever, or even redness of the ear. Most ear infections can be treated with antibiotics or ear drops, but if ear infections are a common occurrence, there may be another way to help prevent them.

It’s all Down the Tubes

Logo of Ear Nose and Throat also called ENT Doctor

When a child suffers from frequent ear infections, there are these little tubes that can be placed inside the ear by an ENT doctor or “ear nose and throat doctor” that can alleviate inner ear pressure and allow the ear to drain. The procedure is commonly referred to as “putting tubes in your ears,” the little tubes go inside the inner part of the ear and act as a support wall for the ear canal keeping fluid from being able to settle in the ear. Tubes placed in a child’s ear is a very common procedure that ENT doctors do for many patients suffering from inner ear infections. It is important to note the tubes in a person’s ears may not alleviate all drainage issues, but it will drastically reduce internal ear infections.

Hear Me Now

Draining ears in children is a widespread issue with young children, but the treatment of draining ear is also common. As a parent speak to your doctor or your ENT. Do not ever think your child is odd for having this issue. Now that you are adequately aware of some of the causes of draining ear as a parent you should feel more empowered, more up to speed with what is going on with your child’s health. You should always want the best for your child, and with this bit of knowledge, you now can rest assured that you have your child’s health in mind.