Pediatric Recurrent Ear Infections

Painful ear infections are often a rite of passage for children—by the age of five, nearly every child has experienced at least one episode. Most ear infections either resolve on their own or are effectively treated by antibiotics. However, sometimes ear infections and/or fluid in the middle ear may become a chronic problem, leading to other issues, such as hearing loss, or behavior and speech problems. In these cases, insertion of an ear tube may be considered.