What is Pediatric Otolaryngology?
Pediatric Otolaryngology is the subspecialty of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all problems located in the ear, nose, larynx and pharynx of children.
What diseases does Pediatric Otolaryngology treat?
Within Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology there are diseases that almost exclusively affect children. Thus, the conditions most frequently treated in Pediatric Otolaryngology are hearing problems, otitis, allergies, tonsillitis, vegetations, speech problems, apnea, snoring, sinusitis, swallowing disorders and cysts or malformations in the head and neck. However, pediatric otolaryngology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the entire apparatus: ears, nose and throat, as well as head and neck conditions. It also deals with head and neck surgery, including preoperative and postoperative care for each intervention.
Seromucous otitis is the most frequent reason for hospital admission for surgical treatment and the most common cause of hypoacusis (hearing loss) in children, being the most frequent cause of disease in the developed world, since 1 in 8 children under 10 years of age have recurrent ear infections and many of them are asymptomatic.
Tonsils are also another very common reason for consultation in pediatric otorhinolaryngology. They are the structures found on each side of the pharynx and form a first barrier of defense for possible infectious agents. The most frequent pathologies are tonsillar hypertrophy and recurrent infections (tonsillitis) or angina.
Hearing loss in children is also common. It is somewhat more complex to study in children, since they do not have the same collaboration as adults.
What subspecialties are there within Pediatric Otolaryngology?
Children’s Otolaryngology uses other subspecialties in order to address each pathology, disease or problem in detail. Thus, we find:
- Rhinology: subspecialty that studies nasal disorders and paranasal cavities and nose surgeries for functional and/or aesthetic purposes.
- Laryngology: studies the alterations of the larynx that affect the voice and its quality.
- Audiology: subspecialty that deals with hearing disorders (deafness and hypoacusis).
- Otoneurology: studies pathologies associated with vertigo (Ménière’s syndrome, otosclerosis and other balance-related pathologies), as well as secondary hearing disorders or chronic ear infections.
- Speech therapy and phoniatrics: treats speech disorders.
When is it necessary to see a specialist in Pediatric Otolaryngology?
It is advisable to see a specialist in Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology when, among other reasons, the child:
- Presents recurrent discomfort or discomfort that persists for a long time in the ears.
- We suspect that he/she has a delay in language acquisition and we consider that it may be due to a hearing problem.
- Does not respond satisfactorily to treatment prescribed by the primary care physician.
- Has received many medications, immunizations or various procedures without a clear diagnosis.