Melissa McBrien

No preparation is usually necessary. Almost all sinus CT scans are performed without contrast. If your CT is ordered with contrast, ask your doctor why this is.

There’s not much detail here, but it sounds like you should see a pediatrician.

There is often fluid left in the ear after an infection, which can impede the hearing and be there for several days. I would check with your doctor to see if there is still fluid present.

Yes, it is.

General anesthesia. The child is completely asleep.

If your child has a fever or is not clearing symptoms in 24 hours, it is a good idea to see a doctor. It could be strep throat, which should be treated with antibiotics.

In general, children do not stay in the hospital after tonsillectomy unless they are having problems with pain control or nausea, which is rare. Very young children, under the age of three, or children with other medical conditions, such a seizure disorders or asthma, may stay in the hospital overnight.

I would stop the antibiotic. The diarrhea it is likely from the antibiotic. In any case, if he is having diarrhea the antibiotic is just washing through his GI tract and not getting absorbed. It does not put him at any higher risk of a resistant organism to stop the amoxicillin at this point.

I have had chiropractors tell people that they can help this problem, but I don't think that they can. Fluid in the ears occurs because the eustachian tube isn't working properly. This can happen from congestion due to a cold, sinus infection, or allergies. Sometimes the eustachian tube isn't working well because it is too small or immature (this is why babies and toddlers get more ear infections than older kids or adults). Manipulation from chiropractic doesn't really change the eustachian tube. It's too far from the spinal column.

Things that can help fluid in the ears: decongestants (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine); antihistamines (diphenhydramine, loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine) - if you have allergies; nasal steroids (fluticasone, triamcinolone) - but you have to use them daily for at least one week to get a good effect. Sometimes warmth over the ear helps. "Popping" the ear by holding your nose and swallowing, like scuba divers do, or yawning, works for some people. Your doctor may prescribe steroids if your fluid doesn't clear after several days.

Sinus infections in babies can be serious. They should be treated with antibiotics and should be followed closely by the pediatrician, especially if the baby has a persistent fever. Nasal saline spray is helpful for clearing the nose.

Tinnitus rarely represents anything dangerous. It is mostly annoying, but can be VERY annoying. Some things you can do that might help: Limit salt, caffeine, and alcohol in your diet. Not everyone responds to this. Sometimes one of those three will aggravate your tinnitus while the others may not.

A decongestant like Sudafed will help more than the Zyrtec. Warmth and ibuprofen are also very helpful for this type of pain.

Children frequently have brief nose bleeds, usually less than 10-15 minutes. If they are longer than that or occurring 3-4 times a week, you should consult your pediatrician.

The most common signs are a high fever, headache, fatigue, and a stiff neck. Some people may have rashes. The most common cause of bacterial meningitis is Hemophilus B. If a child is receiving routine vaccinations there is one that is protective for this type of meningitis.

Unfortunately, there are no antibiotic ear drops that are over the counter. You will need to go to an Urgent Care. In the meantime, keep the ear dry. Sometimes a heating pad is helpful.

There isn't a proven natural treatment for strep throat. It's important to treat it with antibiotics. You are not just treating the sore throat; you are preventing the more severe consequences of strep infection, like damage to the heart valves (rheumatic fever) or kidneys (strep glomerulonephritis). If your child is allergic to penicillin, there are other effective antibiotics for strep that your doctor can prescribe.

Melissa McBrien, MD