Ear, nose, and throat disorders, particularly infections, are extremely common among children.
Ear infections occur in children almost as often as the common cold. They can develop behind the eardrum (in the middle ear), called otitis media, or, less commonly, in front of the eardrum (in the outer ear canal), called otitis externa or external otitis.
Throat infections are usually not serious, but they make children uncomfortable and can lead to missed school days and visits to a doctor.
A Look Inside the Ear
A Look Inside the Nose and Throat
Another common disorder is enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids.
Other disorders, such as hearing impairment and neck masses, affect fewer children but are serious.
Rarer disorders include recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and juvenile angiofibromas.
In general, any abnormality of a child’s ear, nose, or throat that does not resolve within several days should be evaluated by a doctor. Sometimes these disorders and abnormalities, if untreated, lead to problems with communication.
