Surgery and Other Treatments
Surgery and Other Treatments
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More than half a million ear-tube surgeries are performed on U.S. children each year; it's the most common pediatric surgery requiring anesthesia.
We spoke about the procedure with Marcella Bothwell, a spokeswoman for the Pediatric Otolaryngology Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery. Two to three days a week, Bothwell performs an average of 15 pediatric surgeries at Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego. Excerpts follow:
Q: What's the rule of thumb for when a child might need tubes?
A: I usually say three infections in six months or four infections in 12 months, and I always ask if the child has a fever of 101 degrees or above, which can indicate the severity of the infection. Also, if the child has had persistent fluid in his ear for more than three months and/or if he is experiencing speech delay.
Is there a minimum age for when tubes can be placed in an infant's ears?
No. I've done surgeries as early as 3 months of age. The typical age, however, is about 1 year.
