COLUMBIA, Mo. — The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery has designated the month of February as Kids’ ENT Health Month.

National health statistics reveal that pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders remain among the primary reasons children visit a physician.

“Children can suffer from a variety of aliments relating to the head and neck that require prompt diagnosis and treatment,” said Eliav Gov-Ari, M.D., a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist at MU Health Care’s ENT Allergy Center of Missouri. “Conditions such as ear infections and enlarged tonsils are among the most common reasons that parents make an appointment, but other issues normally thought to be associated only with adults, such as chronic acid reflux and sleep apnea, may also require a visit with a specialist.”

A pediatric otolaryngologist is a head and neck surgeon who has received advanced training in treating children varying in age from newborns to adolescents. Gov-Ari also manages the care of pediatric patients experiencing neonatal hearing loss, nasal obstruction, sinusitis and problems associated with eating and swallowing, to name a few.

“If a child needs surgical or complex medical treatment for illnesses or problems affecting the ear, nose and sinuses, throat and airway, and the neck, a pediatric otolaryngologist has the experience and qualifications to treat them,” said Gov-Ari.

For more information on kids’ ear, nose and throat health, call (573) 882-8173 or visit www.muhealth.org.