Children's ENT in Sharjah

What is children's ENT?

Children's ENT, also called paediatric ENT, looks after the ears, nose, throat and airway of growing children. A child's anatomy differs from an adult's in ways that shape the care: the tube linking the middle ear to the back of the nose is shorter and more level, so fluid and infection collect behind the eardrum more easily, and the adenoids sit where they can block the nose and that same tube.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, children are seen by the ENT surgeon, working alongside the Pediatrics and Neonatology team, so a child's general health, growth and development stay part of the picture. The approach is gentle and unhurried, and a parent stays with the child throughout the examination.

Who needs it

Parents usually come to children's ENT with one of these concerns:

• Ear infections and glue ear. Repeated earaches, or fluid behind the eardrum after a cold, can muffle hearing for weeks at a time. Treatment of painful infections is covered under ear infection treatment.
• Hearing and speech. Speech that is slow to develop, a child who turns the television up or seems to ignore instructions, or a concern raised at nursery or school.
• Tonsils and adenoids. Frequent sore throats, a permanently blocked nose, mouth breathing or a nasal voice. See tonsillectomy and adenoid removal.
• Snoring and sleep apnoea. Loud nightly snoring, pauses in breathing, restless sleep, bed-wetting, and daytime tiredness, poor concentration or irritability.
• Nosebleeds. Common in children, especially in the dry air of air-conditioned rooms.
• Something stuck in the ear or nose. Beads, small toys, food and paper are all familiar finds.

Most of these problems settle with time or with medicines, and many children need only a clear diagnosis and a plan to watch. Surgery is considered when a problem keeps returning, affects hearing, speech, sleep or learning, or lasts beyond a sensible period of observation, and the surgeon talks through each option with the family so the decision is shared.

What happens

The appointment starts with a conversation about the child's symptoms, sleep, speech, school and general health. The surgeon then looks in the ears with a small handheld light, checks the nose and the back of the throat, and feels the neck. Young children often sit on a parent's lap, and the examination is quick and gentle.

A hearing test is available on site, with methods chosen to suit the child's age, and a middle-ear pressure check shows whether fluid is sitting behind the eardrum. For snoring, a home sleep study may be arranged when the pattern at night needs clarifying.

Many foreign objects in the ear or nose are removed in the clinic with fine instruments. When a child is very young, very anxious or the object is deeply placed, removal is planned under a short general anaesthetic.

When an operation is recommended, such as removing the adenoids or tonsils, or placing small ventilation tubes in the eardrums for persistent glue ear, it is usually performed as a day case, with care from the paediatric anaesthesia team. Where speech therapy, hearing aids or other specialist services are needed, the surgeon arranges referral.

Preparing for it

Before the visit, jot down how often ear infections or sore throats have happened and when, and bring any previous hearing results, school or nursery reports about speech, and a list of medicines the child takes. For snoring, a short phone video of the child breathing at night is often more useful than any description.

Tell your child in simple words that the doctor will look in their ears, nose and mouth with a light. Bring a favourite toy or snack for the wait. If surgery is planned, the team gives clear fasting instructions for the anaesthetic, and it helps to arrange the date around exams, travel and, where relevant, Ramadan.

Afterwards

Follow-up depends on the problem. Glue ear is usually rechecked with a repeat hearing test after a period of observation, and children who snore are reviewed once any treatment has had time to work. Nasal sprays for a blocked nose work best with correct technique, so ask to be shown how to aim them.

For nosebleeds, sit the child upright, lean them slightly forward and pinch the soft part of the nose firmly and steadily. Swimming pools, flying and ear pressure changes are common UAE questions; ask the surgeon about swimming and flights, especially after ear surgery. Keeping the child drinking well in the summer heat supports recovery after any throat surgery.

A child with noisy breathing and drooling, or who is struggling to breathe or swallow, needs the emergency department straight away.

If a child may have swallowed a button battery or a magnet, or pushed one into the ear or nose, go to the emergency department immediately.

Any bleeding from the mouth after tonsil surgery means going to the emergency department immediately.

Call the hospital if your child has ear discharge, a high fever that persists, pain that keeps rising, a nosebleed that keeps returning, or is drinking much less than usual.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover children's ENT consultations, hearing tests and medically indicated surgery. Operations such as tonsil, adenoid or ear tube surgery usually need pre-approval, and the record of infections, hearing results or sleep findings supports the request. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.