Protecting Children’s Ears, Noses And Airways (NAPSA)—Parents can protect their children from a surprising and potentially deadly problem. Nearly nine percent of all suffocation deaths for children underfive happen when they swallow or choke on foreign objects, such as toys, buttons or small candies. In addition, it’s estimated that five percent of all children swallow coins. What’s more, doctors say that thousands of children damage their hearing, harm their airways or suffer from some form of poisoning as a result of putting foreign objects in their ears, nose or mouth. Symptoms caused by such objects range from difficulty hear- ing, to discomfort and pain, changes in breathing, difficulty swallowing and sometimes drainage, especially from objects in the ear or nose. If you suspect your child has swallowed a foreign object or placed one in his nose or ear, it’s a good idea to quickly visit an otolaryngol- ogist, also known as an ear, nose and throat specialist. Otolaryngologists are uniquely qualified, receiving a total of six to seven years of post graduate train- Foreign objects in the airways and ears can be a major health hazard for children. ing in medical and surgical proce- dures used in the diagnosis and treatment of adult and children’s ear, nose and throat problems. Kids E.N.T. Health is a public education campaign observed by otolaryngologists every February. Started by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the campaign serves to advise parents, caregivers and other physicians on the best care available for children’s ear, nose and throat problems. For more information on the initiative, or for tips on keeping children healthy, visit the Web site www.entnet.org/KidsENT.
