Do you know that a network of tubes connects the organs responsible for three of the major senses (taste, smell, and hearing)? People do not realise how intertwined these three senses are. The ears, nose, and throat (otherwise known as the ENT region) are frequently examined together because of the way they interact with each other. The medical field responsible for this is called otolaryngology. If you encounter any issues with your sinuses, hearing, and more, go to an ENT clinic in Singapore.
You might be confused about whether you should see an otolaryngologist instead of a primary care doctor. Remember that you need to look closely at your medical condition and assess whether you need an ENT doctor to treat you. Only an ENT doctor may be able to treat certain conditions.
There might be a significant overlap between a GP (or primary care doctor) and an ENT doctor, but there are a few hints that can tell you whether you need a general practitioner or an ENT doctor— it depends on the complexity and the severity of your symptoms. For example, an ENT doctor should only step in for conditions specifically affecting the ear, nose, and throat region. They are only necessary for chronic conditions, last longer than a few weeks, or are particularly severe.
Primary care physicians can take care of milder conditions and help you on the first steps toward treating milder symptoms, but they may refer you to an ENT doctor once you need more intense care.
Another reason you might go to an ENT doctor is that you might need specialised healthcare for specific people. For example, someone who is elderly may need to go to an ENT doctor who specialises in geriatric medicine. If you have a child, you may need a paediatric ENT doctor in Singapore.
What Is A Paediatric ENT doctor?
As parents, you want the best for your children. If they are suffering from a condition affecting their ENT region, the first thing you might want to do is send them to a doctor. But a primary care physician might not be the only person who can help your child recover. For ear, nose, and throat problems, there is one person who can do better in solving your child’s problems. That person is the paediatric ENT doctor.
A paediatric ENT doctor does much of the job as a regular otolaryngologist does, except they specialise in children’s problems. It’s hard to know what ails a child because sometimes they are not forthcoming about their symptoms, but with the help of a paediatric ENT doctor, you may know much better about the ailments that might affect your child.
If you see that your child may be experiencing something, an ENT specialist in Singapore might help you figure out what is ailing your child. Let’s learn more about the kinds of ENT conditions children may have.
What ENT Conditions Can A Child Have?
The ears, nose, and throat combined help you experience the world. Imagine how uncomfortable it might be for children who cannot express what is wrong with their ENT region. Any condition might impair their ability to enjoy life. There are many ways for something to happen with this system. For this reason, you must take your child to an ENT doctor when this happens.
With an ENT doctor, many of your child’s ENT issues will get treated. They can solve a wide variety of issues. Some of them may be more obvious, others are conditions that stem from others. Here are some conditions a paediatric ENT doctor can treat:
1) Ear infection
Any ear infection in children must be treated with utmost urgency. The urgency is needed because it can lead to further degradation of hearing and may also be painful. Bacteria, fungi, and more can cause ear infections in your child. Sometimes, they can clear up on their own, but they can cause pain due to fluid buildup.
Ear infections can be chronic. Other times, they can be more severe. Chronic ear infections are a massive cause of concern because they can turn permanent if not treated well. Seek an ENT doctor if your child is suffering from an ear infection.
2) Snoring
Snoring in children is not unheard of, but it might happen to your child for many reasons. One might ask, is snoring a big deal? Why is it important to fix snoring problems? It might not look significant but it can be incredibly disruptive. Loud snoring can rouse people sleeping with you and be indicative of obstructive sleep apnea. They may also worsen with age.
3) Sleep apnea
While sleep apnea is less common in children, it is still present in some. Some sleeping disorders may look unrelated to ENT issues until you look closely. But this type of sleep disorder can impact your mental, emotional, and physical health, and is all due to a problem with the ENT system.
Observe your child during sleep and waking hours. One of the most prominent signs of sleep apnea is interrupted breathing, frequently waking up during sleep, daytime sleepiness, distractibility, and more.
4) Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is highly common in children. If you had a sore and painful throat or difficulty swallowing, then you know what tonsillitis feels like. Tonsillitis happens when a bacterial or viral infection affects the throat. There are many ways to solve tonsillitis without antibiotics. But sometimes, you may need better measures to solve tonsillitis. If the situation does not improve, then you might need an ENT doctor to perform a tonsillectomy.
Dr Jenica Yong is an ENT specialist in Singapore who can address some of the more pressing problems that plague your child’s ENT region. Learn more about how you can protect your child’s ear, nose, and throat areas when you reach out to her through their website.
