Overview
Ear tube insertion is recommended for:
- fluid in the middle ear (present for more than 12 weeks)
- recurrent ear infections despite efforts of prevention (more than three infections in six months)
- ear infections that don't improve after two to three rounds of using the appropriate antibiotics
Symptoms include:
- persistent ear pain
- ear drainage
- hearing loss (over a three-month period)
Review Date 8/5/2015
Updated by: Sumana Jothi MD, Specialist in Laryngology, Clinical Instructor UCSF Otolaryngology, NCHCS VA, SFVA, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.