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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How do I know if my child needs grommets?

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    Colds & Flu Respiratory Health
    How many infections does a child need to have to be considered a candidate from grommets? My daughter gets recurrent infections but there has never been a perforated ear drum. She does however get infections that cause her ears to become very red and painful for her which antibiotics clear up
    • 2 answers
    • Dr Teresa Wong
    • Dr David McIntosh
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  • Dr Teresa Wong

    GP (General Practitioner)

    I love medicine! My special interest areas are mental health, pain management, pediatrics and musculoskeletal injuries. Having said that there is no area in medicine … View Profile

    We usually start worrying if a child gets 6 or more ear infections per year. At this point grommets may be necessary but I would refer you to an ENT specialist to advise you on all the options. One important thing to do would be to get your daughters hearing checked so that we're sure that it hasn't been affected and she won't have difficulties at school.
    In terms of how to prevent her getting colds in the future I'd have to consider a few things which mostly revolve around what's causing them. Depending on her age it is normal for most children to get sick 6-8 times per year. However if they suffer from things such as hayfever, sinus or asthma then often getting those conditions under control can change things dramatically for the better.

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    Dr David McIntosh

    Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon

    David McIntosh is an Australian trained ENT surgeon with international experience. His areas of interest are paediatrics, nose and sinus disease, and providing access to … View Profile

    Any operation has risks and benefits, but doing nothing also has risks and benefits. You should be guided by your GP and feel open to the idea of seeing an ENT specialist for an opinion. Remember that you are only getting an opinion rather than committing to anything when you see a specialist. Lastly, don't waste too much time with Dr Google. 

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