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An ORL or ENT physician specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with ear, nose and throat problems. For example: frequent ear infections, surgery for tonsils and ears, major nose bleeds, sinus surgeries, neck tumors, plus a multitude of other things in adults.
You should consult your pediatrician first if: your child develops an ear infection, hearing difficulties, frequent tonsillar (amygdala) infections, difficulty breathing at night or snoring, nose bleeds or an enlarged neck mass, because he follows your child on a regular basis. Your pediatrician will diagnose and treat the condition at first, and then refer you to the ENT (otorhinolaryngologist) specialist if he develops frequent infections or becomes in need of surgery.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy are the most frequently performed surgeries in children.1
Tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils) is recommended if your child develops seven throat infections / year, or five infections / year for 2 years, or 3 infections / year for 3 years. It is also recommended with removal of adenoids for obstructive sleep apnea or difficulty breathing at night, especially if associated with poor growth, obesity or craniofacial abnormalities. Your pediatrician will also refer to the ENT physician for ventilation tube placement in the ear drum if your child gets more than 4 infections / year, or if antibiotics fail to eradicate the infection in 3 months, or if your child continues to have persistent middle ear fluid for more than 3 months. The ENT physician might order a hearing test called audiogram or tympanometry to check the need for performing surgery. 1
There should always be a collaboration between your pediatrician and ENT surgeon who work as a team for the benefit of your child. 2
Dr. Rima Halat
MD Pediatrician
