The child was brought to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Center at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. She was lethargic, had a high fever for three days, severe earaches, a runny nose, and a sore throat.

Doctor Truong Tri Tuong's endoscopy revealed swollen eardrums filled with pus, a cloudy nasal discharge, and an inflamed throat. He diagnosed Thao with pharyngitis and acute suppurative otitis media, requiring high-dose intravenous antibiotics. If the initial antibiotics proved ineffective, the doctor planned to conduct a pus culture and antibiotic susceptibility test to determine the appropriate treatment and avoid antibiotic resistance. After two days of treatment, Thao responded well, her fever subsided, her ear discharge stopped, and she was discharged in stable condition.

According to Dr. Tuong, if acute suppurative otitis media is not treated promptly, it can lead to eardrum perforation, hearing loss, mastoiditis, and meningitis. Many parents often dismiss a child's cough and runny nose as minor summer ailments and delay seeking medical attention, resorting to self-medication. This can cause the illness to recur, become chronic, and develop complications.

Similarly, at Tam Anh General Clinic in District 7, Doctor Truong Tan Phat, Head of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Unit, reported a 30% increase in children with recurrent pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and otitis media in the past month compared to the previous month. He explained that the fluctuating temperatures between hot days and sudden rain showers challenge children's immune systems. This, combined with their sensitive nasal and throat mucous membranes, creates an environment conducive to viral and bacterial infections. During summer break, children often stay in air-conditioned rooms, which dries out their mucous membranes, making them more susceptible to irritation. If pharyngitis is not treated effectively, the infection can spread from the nose and throat to the middle ear, causing otitis media. This is because the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, is shorter and more horizontal in children than in adults.

Dr. Phat performs an endoscopy on a child’s throat. Illustrative photo: Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7

Newborns receive antibodies from their mothers, but these antibodies gradually decrease after 6 months of age. The period from 6 months to 5 years old is considered an "immunity gap" because children have not yet produced enough antibodies to fight off bacteria and viruses. Their nasal and throat mucous membranes are thin, their cilia are less effective, and their coughing and sneezing reflexes are weaker, making them more vulnerable to infections.

To prevent pharyngitis complications, Dr. Phat advises parents to avoid exposing children to excessively low temperatures in air-conditioned rooms and to minimize the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. Children with persistent runny noses, high fevers, or earaches should be examined promptly for thorough treatment. Adults should not self-medicate or administer ear drops to children at home, as this can worsen the condition and increase the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Uyen Trinh