Faith Regional Health Services | living WELL | Fall 2017

WHEN YOUR CHILD has an ear infection, it can be difficult on the whole family. Children with an earache often experience pain in their ear, difficulty sleeping, fever, irritability, poor appetite and crying at night when lying down. These symptoms are not only stressful for the child but also for their parents or others caring for them. If your child has chronic ear infections—occurring more than 4 or 5 times in a year—or an ear infection Demetrio J. Aguila III, MD Otolaryngologist Faith Regional Physician Services Ear, Nose and Throa t 301 N. 27th St., Suite 14, Norfolk 402-844-8344 Learn more about the ear tubes procedure at frpsclinics.org . Lasting relief for your child EAR INFECT IONS that is persistent and doesn’t heal within 90 days, he or she may be a good candidate for ear tubes. During surgery, any fluid is removed and a small, plastic tube is inserted into the eardrum to help drain fluid from the middle ear, preventing buildup. Following surgery, many doctors prescribe ear drops that parents have to give their kids multiple times a day over many days. This can be another emotional, stressful and exhausting process. At Faith Regional Physician Services Ear, Nose and Throat, Demetrio Aguila III, MD, a board- certified otolaryngologist, administers a special antibiotic directly into the middle ear during surgery. “The antibiotic forms a gel inside the middle ear space, which then turns into a powder over the course of the next few days,” says Dr. Aguila. “The antibiotic sticks around in the ear for the next two to three weeks.” Not only does this re- duce the risk of infection, but it also avoids the need for parents to give their child any ear drops after surgery. And that’s a big relief for both the child and parents. and you! 6 FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES