Las Vegas Urban League WIC Tells Parents To Be Vigilant During Kids Ear, Nose And Throat Month

LAS VEGAS - Feb. 2, 2023 - PRLog -- The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery stresses that the cold winter months are especially hard on children with regards to ear, nose, and throat disorders. That's why during February Kids ENT Health Month, the Academy recommends that parents be proactive in protecting their children.

"Be aware if your child's ear feels warm to the touch, or if there is swelling near the entrance to the ear canal," Shannon Johnson, WIC Flamingo East Clinic Coordinator, said. "This might be a sign of an outer ear infection. If your child is constantly tugging on their earlobe, cries even after being well rested and fed, or if you notice blood or drainage from the ear canal, this could very well be a middle-ear infection. Have an ENT specialist check your child's ears immediately."

An ENT specialist can also determine if your child is suffering from tonsillitis, inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacterial or viral infections such as streptococcus or the common cold. Sinusitis is another disorder caused by inflammation of the sinuses. This could be triggered by a cold or an allergy.

"Pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders are among the main reasons children visit a physician," Johnson explained. "Excessive noise exposure is another growing reason children sometimes need to visit an ENT specialist. More children than ever have access to earbuds or headphones that deliver loud noises straight to their ears. The result may be hearing loss due to these loud noises."

Parents should be conscious that if their children are around loud background noise, their child will probably raise the volume of their listening device to overcome the noise. This increases the chances of the child damaging their ears. Also, when attending events, such as loud sports stadium games or concerts, it's recommended that children, as well as adults, should use ear-muffling devices to dampen such noise.

"The world we live in is becoming noisier," Johnson said. "If we are exposed to noise in childhood, we probably won't notice the effects of such damaging effects until we get older."

For more information and advice on how to protect your children during Kids ENT Health Month, visit the Las Vegas Urban League WIC at https://www.wiclv.org or its two convenient locations: 6480 W. Flamingo Road, Suite B, Las Vegas, phone (702) 227-1573 or 3320 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 50, Las Vegas, phone (702) 476-9561.

The Las Vegas Urban League Women, Infants and Children Program is a 501c (3) program that is funded by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.