Children under three years of age usually suffer from about one or two ear infections in a year. This occurs when fluid gets trapped in the middle ear after a bacterial or viral infection. Younger children are more susceptible to ear infections as their Eustachian tubes are still developing and short, making them more prone to blockages and swelling.

Most ear infections run their course in approximately one week. Pain due to ear infection can be managed by warm compresses or the use of medications and eardrops recommended by the ENT doctor. If the cause is a bacterial infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. 

Children with chronic ear infections may be given ear tubes (small tubes placed by the ENT doctor in the eardrum to prevent fluid buildup and give ventilation to the middle ear).

An ENT surgeon can perform both surgical and non-surgical procedures, depending on the severity and type of condition present. Some common procedures performed by an ENT doctor include:

• Adenoidectomy (removal of adenoids, which are small lumps of lymphoid tissue in the area where the nose and throat blend)
• Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils)
• Myringotomy tube insertion (a tube inserted inside the eardrum to prevent recurrent ear infections)
• Septoplasty (procedure performed to straighten the nasal septum)
• Sinus surgery (for the removal of the blockage in the sinus or to enlarge the sinus opening to allow easy drainage)
• Tracheotomy (a small opening is made in the trachea to help air reach the lungs)

Some common conditions that could lead to nasal obstruction are sinusitis, a deviated septum, nasal polyps, adenoid enlargement, or enlargement of the nasal turbinates. These conditions may need to be treated by an ENT doctor using a surgical approach.