Pediatric ENT Treatment & Solutions

Treating Middle Ear Infections

Most middle ear infections (otitis media) resolve within a few days without medical intervention. To help relieve your child’s discomfort, you can:
  • Apply a warm compress to the affected ear
  • Use pediatric pain-relieving eardrops (as directed by your doctor)
  • Offer an appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
Note: Do not give aspirin to infants or children due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Always consult your child’s physician before administering any medication.

Antibiotics may be prescribed if your child’s symptoms persist beyond a few days, the infection is severe, or the child is under 6 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend judicious use of antibiotics to help reduce the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Surgery may be recommended when middle ear infections fail to respond to antibiotics.

Myringotomy is a surgical procedure that creates a small opening in the eardrum to decrease pressure and increase fluid drainage. In some cases, a tiny tube (tympanostomy tube) is placed in each eardrum. Surgery may also be used to remove enlarged adenoids.

Contact Us

Treating Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis usually resolves on its own within 7–10 days if caused by a virus. If it’s caused by group A strep or other bacteria, antibiotics may be necessary. If antibiotics are prescribed, it is important that the child finishes the full course of medication, even if symptoms improve sooner. At home comfort measures include:
  • Gargle with warm salt water
  • Drink warm tea
  • Suck on popsicles
  • Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain
A tonsillectomy may be recommended if your child has frequent or recurring tonsillitis (e.g., 7+ episodes in one year, 5 per year over 2 years, or 3 per year over 3 years), difficulty breathing or sleep-disordered breathing due to enlarged tonsils, and/ or complications such as abscess or infection spreading beyond the tonsils. This outpatient procedure usually allows your child to go home the same day. Full recovery takes approximately 1 to 2 weeks. While once a routine surgery, tonsillectomies are now reserved for more persistent or severe cases, as many children outgrow the condition over time.
little girl being examined by doctor

Prevention, Risk, and Complications

Middle Ear Infections

While not contagious, middle ear infections are often triggered by upper respiratory illnesses. You can reduce your child’s risk by:
  • Promoting good hand hygiene
  • Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke
  • Feeding infants in an upright position
  • Avoiding bottle or Sippy cup use while your child is lying down
High-risk groups include:
  • Children attending daycare
  • Children with Down Syndrome or cleft palate
  • Native American or Alaskan Native children
If left untreated, chronic or recurrent middle ear infections may lead to:
  • Perforated eardrum
  • Hearing loss
  • Speech and language delays (in children with persistent hearing impairment)
  • Spread of infection to nearby structures such as mastoid bone or brain

Tonsillitis

Since tonsillitis is often spread through respiratory droplets, you can reduce your child's risk by:
  • Encourage frequent handwashing
  • Teach children to cough/sneeze into a tissue or elbow
  • Avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils
  • Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available
If untreated or severe, tonsillitis can lead to:
  • Enlarged tonsils causing airway obstruction or sleep apnea
  • Peritonsillar abscess (pus-filled pocket behind the tonsil)
  • Spread of infection to surrounding tissues
  • Rare complications of untreated strep throat, including rheumatic fever or post-streptococcal arthritis
little boy being fitted for a hearing aid

Hearing Loss Solutions

Hearing loss can affect anyone, from infants to older adults. While some causes are genetic or age-related, others result from infection, trauma, or chronic ear disease. At Austin ENT Clinic – Pediatric & Adult Care, we provide comprehensive hearing evaluations and solutions. We understand that hearing loss can be difficult to accept. Our team provides compassionate support and individualized treatment for patients and families navigating hearing impairment.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Types of Sinus Surgery

  • Functional Endoscopic: The most common type of sinus endoscopy, the procedure utilizes small telescopes and microdebriders, allowing for less trauma and less recovery time.
  • Image-Guided Functional Endoscopic: This procedure allows for a precise visualization of the anatomy of the paranasal sinuses. It is usually indicated for patients with more extensive disease or patients who have had previous sinus surgery.
  • Balloon Sinuplasty: This procedure utilizes a balloon device to open blocked sinuses, many times without the need for tissue or bone removal, resulting in reduced bleeding and less post-op discomfort.

Sinus Endoscopy & Balloon Sinuplasty

Many people with sinus conditions respond well to medical treatment including antibiotics or other medications, allergy treatment or environmental changes such as smoking cessation. If you do not respond to medical treatment, you may be a candidate for a sinus surgical procedure. Sinus disease symptoms may include:
  • Facial pain
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Post-nasal discharge
  • Persistent bad smell in nose
  • Hoarseness, cough, and occasional headaches

What to Expect

Our physicians will do a thorough examination in our office that many times will include a CT scan of the sinuses to accurately assess the specific areas involved. CT scanning can be done in our Central Austin location, allowing a review of the results on the same or next day.

If surgery is indicated, your procedure will be scheduled on a date convenient for you. In most cases, the surgery will be performed on an outpatient basis, but hospital admission is sometimes necessary.

You can expect your first office follow-up visit within one or two weeks following the procedure and a second follow-up within six weeks.

After the Procedure

You may experience some bloody post-nasal discharge over the two months following surgery. This is a normal occurrence and should improve slowly over time. It is important to NOT blow your nose during the 5-day period following your procedure. Other post-op risks include:
  • Bleeding: Requires nasal packing and sometimes hospital admission.
  • Eye Injury: Some swelling or bruising of the area around the eye may occur, very rarely, temporary or prolonged double vision, or blindness.
  • Numbness or discomfort in the upper front teeth.
  • Temporary facial swelling caused by blowing your noise in the early post-op period.
  • Decreased sense of smell.

Your Path to Relief Starts Here

512-381-2850