Pediatric Ear Infection Doctor in Dubai

Quick answer

Who treats ear infections in children in Dubai, and when should you see a doctor?

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist who treats ear infections in children. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. He also treats glue ear (thick fluid behind the eardrum). Many mild ear infections clear by themselves within two to three days. See him if your child keeps needing antibiotics, or if their hearing worries you. Get urgent help for painful swelling behind the ear, a very high fever or a stiff neck.

Your child has just finished another course of antibiotics, and two weeks later the ear trouble is back. Or the pain has gone, but your child now seems to ignore you when called. This is when many parents start looking for a pediatric ear infection doctor in Dubai.

Repeated middle-ear infections and glue ear are common in young children, and most can be managed well. This guide covers why infections return, when antibiotics help, how glue ear can affect speech, and when small ear tubes called grommets may be advised. Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, assesses and treats children with these problems.

Why do some children keep getting ear infections?

Behind the eardrum is a small air-filled space, the middle ear. Air reaches it through the Eustachian tube, a thin channel that opens at the back of the nose. The same channel lets fluid drain away.

In a young child, this channel is short, floppy and almost level. A cold makes its lining swell, and it shuts. Fluid then collects behind the eardrum, and germs from the nose can multiply in it. The result is a middle-ear infection.

Some children are more prone to repeat episodes:

Age. Repeated infections are most common between about 6 months and 6 years old.
Frequent colds. Nursery and school bring many viruses, especially in the first year.
Large adenoids. These pads of tissue sit near the tube's opening. When enlarged or infected, they can block it and hold germs nearby.
Allergies. A blocked, runny nose may keep the tube swollen for weeks.
Smoke exposure. Cigarette, shisha or vape smoke at home irritates the lining of the nose and tube.
Family history, and some medical conditions such as cleft palate or Down syndrome.

Most children grow out of it.

What is glue ear, and how is it different from an ear infection?

An acute ear infection is usually sudden and painful. Your child may have a fever, cry at night, and pull at the ear. It often settles within a few days.

Glue ear (otitis media with effusion) is the quiet partner. After an infection or a cold, the middle ear can stay full of thick fluid for weeks. There is usually no pain and no fever, so it is easy to miss.

The main problem with glue ear is muffled hearing. In many children the fluid clears by itself within three months. In others it lingers or keeps coming back. Read more on our ear infection and glue ear treatment page.

Watchful waiting or antibiotics: what is right for your child?

Many mild ear infections clear by themselves within two to three days. So doctors often suggest "watchful waiting". This does not mean doing nothing. It usually means:

Regular pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, using the dose for your child's weight. A baby under 3 months should be seen by a doctor instead.
Watching your child closely for 48 to 72 hours.
Going back to the doctor if things are not improving or are getting worse.

Antibiotics are more likely to be needed when:

Your child is under 6 months old, or under 2 years with both ears infected.
There is a high fever or severe pain.
Pus is coming out of the ear.
Symptoms have not improved after two to three days.

Glue ear is different. Antibiotics, decongestants and antihistamines do not clear it in the long run. The usual first step is a recheck after about three months. Children aged 3 or older may be taught to blow up a special balloon with the nose, which can help push air into the middle ear.

If your child needs antibiotics again and again, it is time to look for the cause.

Get urgent medical help if your child has painful swelling or redness behind the ear, a very high fever, a stiff neck, weakness of one side of the face, or seems unusually drowsy.

Is glue ear holding back your child's speech?

Glue ear is a bit like listening with your fingers in your ears. Quiet sounds and word endings get lost. If this goes on for months, a toddler may be slow to pick up new words, or may say them unclearly.

Clues to look out for:

Hearing that seems better on some days and worse on others, often worse during a cold.
Talking more loudly than before.
Mixing up words that sound alike.
Rubbing the ears or saying they feel "full", without real pain.
Seeming clumsy or a little off balance.
A teacher mentioning that your child does not follow instructions in class.

The hearing loss from glue ear is usually temporary and improves once the fluid clears. Our page on speech delay and hearing loss in children explains what to look for.

What does a pediatric ear infection doctor in Dubai check?

Bring a note of past infections and the medicines used. The check may include:

Looking in the ears with a light to check the eardrum for redness, bulging or fluid.
Tympanometry. A soft tip rests in the ear for a few seconds and shows how well the eardrum moves. A flat result suggests fluid.
A hearing test suited to your child's age. Younger children may do play-based tests. Older children can press a button when they hear a sound.
Checking the nose and throat for signs of large adenoids, such as snoring, mouth breathing or a blocked nose.

When are grommets advised for children?

A grommet is a tiny tube, a few millimetres long, set into a small opening in the eardrum. It works as an air vent, so fluid does not build up again. While the grommets are in, hearing usually improves and painful infections may happen less often.

Your doctor may discuss grommets if:

Glue ear has lasted three months or more in both ears, with hearing loss on testing.
Hearing loss is affecting speech, learning or behaviour.
Your child has very frequent acute infections, for example three in six months or four in a year, with fluid still behind the eardrum at the check-up.

The procedure is short and done under a general anaesthetic. Most children go home the same day. Over 6 to 18 months, the eardrum slowly pushes the grommets out, and the tiny hole then usually closes by itself. Possible downsides include a runny ear while the tubes are in and, less often, a small hole that does not close. Learn more on our grommet ear tubes page.

Not every child needs the adenoids removed at the same time. This may be suggested if your child also snores or has a blocked nose, or if grommets are needed a second time. See our adenoids and adenoidectomy page.

Simple steps that may lower the risk of repeated infections

Keep your home and car completely smoke-free.
Feed babies sitting up, not lying flat with a bottle.
Keep vaccinations up to date, including the flu vaccine where advised.
Treat allergies and nose blockage with your doctor's advice.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr: ENT care for recurrent ear infections in children

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at the ENT Department of Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, Dubai. He holds MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS qualifications. He has more than 20 years of experience and has performed more than 3,000 ENT procedures.

He treats both adults and children. Many parents see him as one of the best ENT doctors in Dubai for a child with repeated ear infections, and his Google rating is 4.9 from 406 reviews. See our pediatric ENT services page for more.

Book an appointment

Worried about repeated ear infections or your child's hearing? An ENT check can give you clear answers and a plan. Book online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr or call +971 52 751 7811.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child grow out of repeated ear infections?

Most children do. As the face grows, the Eustachian tube becomes longer and steeper, so it drains better. Infections usually become much less frequent by early school age.

Are ear infections contagious between siblings?

The ear infection itself does not spread. But the cold viruses that trigger it do, so brothers and sisters often get ear trouble at the same time.

How many courses of antibiotics are too many?

There is no fixed number. But several courses in a few months are a good reason for an ENT review, to find out why the infections keep returning.

Is grommet surgery painful for my child?

Your child is asleep during the procedure. Afterwards, most children have little or no pain and are back to normal within a day or two.

Can my child swim with grommets?

Many children can swim on the surface of a clean pool once the ears have settled. Your doctor may suggest earplugs. Diving, or swimming in lakes or the sea, may need extra care.

Will my child need a hearing test after grommets?

Usually, yes. A follow-up visit checks that the grommets are in place and that hearing has improved. The ears are then checked from time to time until the grommets come out.

Protecting your child's hearing while they grow

Repeated ear infections and glue ear are common, and most children outgrow them. The aim in the meantime is to protect hearing and speech. Sometimes waiting is enough, sometimes medicine helps, and sometimes grommets are the right step. Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can examine your child and agree a plan with you.