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 2/19/2018
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.