National health statistics reveal that pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders remain among the primary reasons children visit a physician, with ear infections being the most common reason for an appointment, states the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
February is Kids ENT Health Month. The ENT team at Quincy Medical Group (QMG) includes Dr. Abraham Sheffield and Nurse Practitioner Heather Leindecker. Dr. Sheffield and Leindecker see patients of all ages from newborns to adults. Addressing ENT issues in kids is important, as these conditions can impact their development, learning, and day-to-day activities.
“ENT issues can cause long-term problems. For example, a kid that is diagnosed with sleep apnea due to large tonsils will continue to have this until we remove them. Sleep apnea left untreated can cause chronic health issues,” Leindecker shared.
Though ear infections are common, kids can experience other ENT issues as well, said Leindecker.
“Kids can experience conditions including tongue-tie, nose bleeds, recurrent sore throats, breathing issues related to large tonsils, obstructive sleep apnea, and nasal obstruction. All of these can be evaluated by our team,” she stated.
Identifying issues early on is important. Leindecker said the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome for kids.
“We see kids as young as newborns. Some of them have tongue-tie with feeding issues, etc., and this needs to be identified and treated as early as possible,” she shared.
If you have concerns about your child, Leindecker said it’s best to start with your child’s primary care provider. If there is a need for a referral, your child’s provider can then coordinate care with the QMG ENT team.
For more information on ENT services at QMG, visit quincymedgroup.com.