Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor. The infection is often caused by inflammation of the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ears to the back of the throat and act as pressure equalizing valves. If these tubes become swollen or blocked, fluid builds up behind the eardrum and bacteria have a great place to thrive. Fortunately, most ear infections can be easily treated with antibiotics, but severe cases may require the insertion of a tympanostomy tube (commonly known as an ear tube).

The tympanostomy tube is a small tube that helps air flow into and out of the middle ear, keeping pressure even and allowing the ear to drain. The tube is usually made of a soft plastic material and placed into the eardrum using a special tool called a laparoscope. The tube is then sealed with a small amount of surgical glue to prevent fluid from leaking into the ear canal and causing further infection.

Children are more prone to ear infections than adults because of the shape and size of their ear tubes, as well as their still-developing immune systems. They can also develop a condition called chronic otitis media with effusion, or persistent fluid buildup in the middle ear that can affect hearing and lead to a perforation of the eardrum. This is typically the result of repeated ear infections that haven't responded to antibiotic treatment.

While a typical ear infection typically goes away on its own or with the help of antibiotics, recurrent ear infections and fluid buildup can cause problems like hearing loss and speech development delays in children. In these cases, an ENT surgeon can recommend a procedure to insert a tympanostomy or ear tube.

A tympanostomy tube can be either short-term or long-term, depending on the needs of each patient. Some tubes are designed to stay in for about 6 months and then fall out on their own; others are meant to be in for a longer period of time, up to 18 months.

Short-term tubes are most commonly used for children with recurrent ear infections, and they're typically removed in a follow-up office visit after about six weeks. During this visit, the doctor will check to see whether the tubes are doing their job by looking in your child's ears.

After surgery, your child may be a little groggy or fussy for a few hours after they're taken home. You should give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the pain and discomfort. You'll also need to make sure that your child takes antibiotics for a week or so to clear up the infection.