Ever Since My Child Got Ear Tubes, Whenever He Gets

Posted on Mon, 15 Jul 2019

Question: Ever since my child got ear tubes, whenever he gets a cold he gets a terrible cough. Before tubes, all the mucus would drain out of his nose and there was no or very little coughing. After tubes, he never gets a runny nose anymore...it’s like everything just drains to the back of his throat and causes a very bad cough. The same thing that gives other kids just a simple runny nose gives him a terrible cough every single time. Absolutely no nose drainage but clearly very stuffy and coughing. How do we fix this? Do we need to remove the tubes? I can’t find anyone who has had this experience before so it’s very frustrating and exhausting. He coughs all night and can’t sleep when this happens.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rajat Basak (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hii. There is no connection between putting the ear tube and get an allerg

Detailed Answer:
Hii. There is no connection between putting the ear tube and get an allergic cough. The ear tubes have been indicated because there was infection behind the middle ear. So your child was having upper respiratory tract infection from before. The ear tube has not created the infection. So please consult an Ent surgeon. Get your child examined thoroughly. Your child may be having infection of the tonsils and adenoids. Get a x ray paranasal sinus and chest x ray. Start antibiotic. anti allergic tablet levocetrizine. Start steam inhalation, betadine gargle. If your child is having allergic nose symptoms like sneezing, watering nose you can start nasal spray, nasoclear nose drop. You need to go back Ent surgeon and a paediatrician. Don't panic. Relax. Tubes will be out of their own. If you have any queries please review back.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rajat Basak (47 minutes later)

Thank you so much for your response. We were evaluated for allergies and asthma and told that is not the problem. I don’t think the tubes are causing infection, he doesn’t get an infection requiring antibiotics usually, just a terrible cough. With everything being so connected between ear nose and throat, couldn’t the tubes be draining everything to his throat? Before he got the tubes, when he got sick he would get a runny nose. After tubes he no longer gets a runny nose when sick, so the mucus must be draining somewhere right? He’s had the tubes in for 20 months and it’s been like this with every cold ever since. The nurse at our ENT said this could be possible but I just wanted to get another opinion. It would be relief because then maybe things will at least improve when they fall out. We will follow up with the ENT surgeon again and ask about X-rays etc, but he never seems to think it’s necessary.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rajat Basak (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hii, Ear tubes are mainly to maintain pressure changes in middle ear. It h

Detailed Answer:
Hii, Ear tubes are mainly to maintain pressure changes in middle ear. It helps in healing ear inflammation. Continue the betadine gargle, nasal spray, drop. do a chest x ray. You can send a throat swab for culture and sensitivity to a good microbiology laboratory and consult an Ent surgeon and paediatrician. Take care of your child. Good wishes.

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad