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Can a child have a ongoing ear infection that ...
Sent to Health Experts December 04 08:05 PM

Can a child have a ongoing ear infection that would cause the tubes that are in the ear to disintegrate. The child has been on ear drops for over a month and antibiotics for same time.

 

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Female, Age: 20 mts, Louisiana

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I am a dad who is being denied the right to see and have my visitation with her per her mothers doctors in another state.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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December 4 8:11 PM (6 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
what tubes in the ear are you referring to that may be disintegrating? has she had tubes surgically place (called tympanostomy tubes or PE tubes) or are you referring to the eustachian tubes that are a structural part of the ear?
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NP Susan -- Nurse Practitioner -- 100% Positive Feedback on 19 Health Accepts
Board Certified in Family Practice, 10 years experience in Primary Care, 20 years experience as RN
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December 4 8:14 PM (2 minutes and 31 seconds later)
         
PE tubes
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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December 4 8:26 PM (12 minutes and 22 seconds later)
         
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it is not uncommon for PE tubes to "fall out" the tympanic membrane closes/heals. Some children undergo PE tube placements several times. It is also not uncommon for some children to have chronic middle ear infections or multiple ear infections (usually this situation is what necessitates the PE tube placement in the first place).
The eustachian tube of a child is shorter and may be at a different angle than an adult's. The eustachian tube is the means by which air pressure remains equal in the middle ear, as well as the eustachian tube allows any "fluid" in the middle ear to drain into the throat. Some things that may increase the likelihood of middle ear infections in children: exposure to smoke, untreated/undiagnosed or under-treated allergies, drinking a bottle while laying flat. A terrific website to learn more about middle ear infections, as well as allergies:
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/infectionsguide/earinfections.html
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NP Susan -- Nurse Practitioner -- 100% Positive Feedback on 19 Health Accepts
Board Certified in Family Practice, 10 years experience in Primary Care, 20 years experience as RN
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December 4 8:30 PM (3 minutes and 41 seconds later)
         
I know they fall out but they are telling me that it did not fall out the infection is so bad in the ear that it has cause the tube to disintegrate, not fall out... and would keeping the child on ear drops and antibiotics for over a month be a normal handling of the problem?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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December 4 8:37 PM (7 minutes and 45 seconds later)
         
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NP Susan -- Nurse Practitioner -- 100% Positive Feedback on 19 Health Accepts
Board Certified in Family Practice, 10 years experience in Primary Care, 20 years experience as RN
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