According to Kid's Health, three out of four children have at least one ear infection by age three. In some children, the ear infections become a chronic event. According to Keep Kids Healthy, chronic is defined by ear, nose, and throat specialists as more than three ear infections in six months or more than four to six ear infections in a year.
Antibiotics
Chronic ear infections which are linked to a bacterial infection may be treated with antibiotics according to Kid's Health. Rather than simply being prescribed as the ear infections manifest, a low does will be taken daily by the child during the peak seasons for ear infections, such as winter or during a flu epidemic. According to Keep Kids Healthy, Amoxicillin, Ceftin, Augmentin, and Ceftriaxone are CDC recommended antibiotic forms for use with children's chronic ear infections.
Ear Tubes
Ear tubes, formally known as typanostomy tubes, are surgically inserted into the ear drum. They provide a means for the Eustachian tube to stabilize ear pressure caused by persistent blockage and infection. According to Family Doctor, the tubes can also provide a drainage path for fluid in the middle ear. The tubes generally fall out on their own after six to nine months, though in some cases they will need to be surgically removed.
Adenoid Removal
Where ear tubes have been either put in place or seriously considered but there is still chronic ear infections going on, doctors may recommend the removal of the adenoidal tissues according to Keep Kids Healthy. This can help reduce pressure on the Eustachian tubes, assisting with healthy drainage. The largest benefits, notes Keep Kids Healthy, occur when the adenoids are swollen and removed as this creates the most pressurization relief.
Ear Remodeling Surgeries
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, in very persistent cases or where a tissue abnormality is causing drainage issues, ear remodeling surgeries may be chosen as a treatment path. The three most common surgical procedures are tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, and typanomastoidectomy. Though full surgical healing can take months, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that 90% of surgical choices have a positive result.
