March 22, 2015
Parents need to be wary of ear problems in tamariki
A Starship ear, nose and throat specialist says parents need to be on the look out for ear problems in tamariki and get them treated.
Australasian experts in infectious diseases have been in Auckland for their annual conference, with the disproportionate number of Maori and Pasifika children with ear infections one of the items on the agenda.
About 85 percent of New Zealand children will have an ear infection during their first few years, and 5000 of them will end up in hospital.
Dr Colin Barber it used to be thought there was a racial predilection for ear problems, but the success of vaccination programmes and other research indicates other factors may be present in Maori and Pasifika families.
" Often have very busy they're often bigger families, mum and dad may be working and it's sometimes harder when you're in a very busy environment and it's difficult to take time out. Sometimes children aren't very good at telling you whats going on. They don't come up to you especially when they're 2 and say I've got a sore ear, it's all blocked, I can't hear very well. They'll just get ratty and grumpy " says Dr Colin Barber from Starship
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