Treatment Stories

Precision Care for Colds, Ear Infections & Chronic Colds

Tuntun Children's Hospital is here for every step of your baby's growth journey.

chronic cold

Precision Care for Colds, Ear Infections & Chronic Colds

Most childhood colds pass quickly and mildly.
But when they keep coming back or linger for too long,
Otitis media, sinusitis (chronic rhinosinusitis), etc.can lead to.

At Tuntun Children's Hospital, we don't treat every cold the same way.
By carefully evaluating the duration of symptoms, recurring patterns, and accompanying signs,
we provide an accurate diagnosis and a step-by-step treatment plan tailored specifically to your child.

Is Your Child's Illness,
Is it really just a cold?

Are you noticing any of the following symptoms lingering or frequently returning?

These signs suggest that a "differential diagnosis" may be necessary:
Runny nose persists for more than 2 weeks
Coughing frequently like a cold, and doesn't get better easily
Symptoms improve with medication, then recur
Severe coughing or snoring at night
A prolonged cold is often accompanied by otitis media or sinusitis

If these symptoms persist for more than 3 weeks or keep recurring, it might not be a simple cold.
There could be underlying causes such as
otitis media, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, allergies, or bronchial hyperreactivity.

Colds,
Why Do They Affect Every Child Differently?

Because children’s immune systems are still developing, they naturally catch colds frequently.
However, when a cold drags on, the issue is often not the cold virus itself, but rather how your child's body reacts to it.

Underlying Causes to Rule Out in Chronic or Recurrent Colds
  • Sinusitis (Chronic Rhinosinusitis)
    Sticky nasal discharge, nasal congestion, facial pain/headache, persistent cough
  • Adenoid Hypertrophy
    Mouth breathing, snoring, recurrent otitis media
  • Allergic Rhinitis
    Clear runny nose, sneezing, itching, worsens with environment/season
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity/Potential Asthma
    Worsening cough at night, wheezing, post-exercise cough

※ Please note: These do not apply to every child. Following precision medicine principles, we perform evaluations selectively based on your child's symptoms and progress.

Ear Infections (Otitis Media),
왜 ‘Accurate Differentiation’is important?

Ear infections are very common in children, but not all of them follow the same course.
Because recurrent or improperly treated ear infections can be dangerous,
‘Accurate differentiation and follow-up’ are more important than early diagnosis. Even if symptoms appear mild, a diagnosis can only be made after directly checking the eardrum condition and inflammation pattern.

  • 1

    Hearing loss

  • 2

    Delayed speech and language development

  • 3

    Chronic otitis media

  • 1

    Ear pain, fever, and fussiness

  • 2

    Frequently tugging or rubbing the ear after a cold

  • 3

    Unexplained irritability and difficulty sleeping

  • 4

    (In toddlers) Delayed speech or turning up the TV volume

Our Approach to Colds, Ear Infections & Chronic Colds
Here is How We Are Different

At Tuntun Children's Hospital, we don't believe in a "test-first" approach.
Our core principle is precision care that starts with an accurate differential diagnosis.

Our Principles of Precision Care
1

Starting from the most basic examination
Starts

2

The same tests or treatment for all children
approach to testing or treatment.

3

Comprehensive assessment of symptoms, examination findings, and course
by comprehensively evaluating symptoms, exam findings, and progress.

Precision Evaluations
Precision Evaluation

Ear Infection (Otitis Media) Evaluations
Otoscopic Examination (Ear Exam)

We check for eardrum redness, the presence of fluid (effusion), and eardrum mobility
to confirm the presence and severity of inflammation.

Hearing Tests (Based on age and condition)

We assess how the ear infection is affecting your child's hearing, check for eardrum damage,
and evaluate the functional impact of otitis media with effusion.

Chronic Runny Nose, Congestion & Cough Evaluations
Imaging Tests

Depending on the symptoms and physical exam findings, we take a step-by-step approach
to examine the sinuses and surrounding structures through imaging.

Sinus Status Evaluation
& Imaging Tests

We carefully select only the most appropriate tests based on your child's age, symptoms, and clinical progress.

Available Imaging Tests
  • X-ray
    Checking for basic sinus inflammation
  • ENT CT
    Detailed structural evaluation for suspected recurrent otitis media or chronic sinusitis

※ Following our principles of precision medicine, we never perform unnecessary testing.

Treatment and management direction Decision

The goal of treatment isn't to prescribe "strong" medicine,
but to provide exactly the right level of care your child needs.

In many cases, medical
treatment is not required.

Without Antibiotics
your child's progress without antibiotics.

For recurring symptoms,
a long-term management strategy tailored to the root cause is essential.

Good to Know

To Parents/Guardians
A Message
  • Catching frequent colds doesn't automatically mean your child has a weak immune system.
  • The most important thing is accurately identifying the specific type of cold or ear infection your child has.
  • Precise medical judgment reduces the unnecessary use of medication and protects your child's healthy growth and daily life.
Recommended
Children
  • Children who frequently catch colds that keep coming back
  • Children with a history of recurrent ear infections
  • Children with a runny nose or cough that lingers for a long time
  • Children who have trouble sleeping at night due to coughing or nasal congestion