Your New Pediatric ENT Clinic: What Conditions We Treat and When to Book
Does your child keep tugging at one ear? Snore louder than you'd expect for someone under four feet tall? Have a nose that's blocked more often than not? Most parents have asked themselves at some point whether this is "just a kid thing" or something worth getting checked.
JTS Medical Centre in Jumeirah, Dubai has opened a dedicated Pediatric ENT Clinic to answer exactly that question. It's led by Dr. Zainab Arsiwala, a European board-certified ENT specialist who also holds a Saudi Board Fellowship in Pediatric ENT, with more than 14 years of experience treating children and adults alike.
Here's a plain-language look at what a pediatric ENT actually does, the conditions we see most, and how to tell when it's time to book rather than wait another few weeks.
ENT covers the ears, nose, and throat but treating a child isn't the same as treating a smaller adult. A child's ears, nose, and airway are still growing and changing, so a symptom that would be minor in an adult, like a persistently blocked nose or a case of snoring, can mean something different in a five-year-old.
That's where the "pediatric" part matters. A pediatric ENT specialist is trained to:
Examine kids in a way that's gentle and doesn't turn into a wrestling match
Recognize which issues a child will simply grow out of, and which ones need treatment now
Catch problems early enough that they don't end up affecting hearing, speech, or sleep down the line
Coordinate care with pediatricians and speech therapists when more than one specialist is involved
Dr. Zainab completed her Pediatric ENT Fellowship at Al Jalila Children's Hospital in Dubai, and her training through the European Board of Otorhinolaryngology and the Saudi Board of Pediatric ENT was built specifically around treating infants, children, and teenagers.
The Conditions We See Most Often
Ear infections that keep coming back.
One infection here and there is normal childhood stuff. But if your child has had several within a few months, or one that just won't clear, it's worth finding out why instead of going through another round of antibiotics and hoping.
Glue ear.
This is fluid sitting behind the eardrum without an actual infection, and it's sneaky because there's usually no pain, just muffled hearing that's easy to miss. Left alone too long, it can start to affect speech development. Some cases just need watching; others need a grommet, a tiny tube inserted to drain the fluid and get hearing back to normal.
Big tonsils and adenoids.
When these are enlarged, kids can end up with frequent throat infections, mouth breathing, heavy snoring, or even brief pauses in breathing while they sleep. If any of that is disrupting sleep or growth, a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy is usually the next conversation.
Hearing loss.
Hearing is tied directly to how children learn to talk and understand language, which is why we offer hearing screening and evaluation. If your child seems distracted a lot, doesn't respond consistently when called, or their speech feels behind where it should be, this is worth checking sooner rather than later.
Nasal blockage and allergies.
A nose that's always stuffy isn't just annoying over time; it can affect sleep, appetite, and even how the face and jaw develop. Allergic rhinitis (reactions to dust, pollen, pet dander) is usually the culprit, and it's typically managed with allergy treatment, sometimes alongside a minor procedure.
Snoring and disrupted sleep.
Loud, regular snoring isn't something to shrug off. It's often connected to large tonsils or adenoids, or nasal blockage, and it can quietly cut into the deep sleep kids need. Dr. Zainab looks at the whole airway to figure out the cause, using sleep endoscopy when it's needed.
Speech delay with a physical cause.
Sometimes speech delay isn't purely a speech therapy issue; hearing loss or chronic ear fluid can be behind it. A pediatric ENT visit helps rule that in or out before (or alongside) starting speech therapy.
Foreign objects stuck where they shouldn't be.
Beads in the nose, small toys in the ear every parent of a toddler has had this moment. These need careful, specialist removal so nothing gets pushed in further.
Noisy breathing in babies.
Some infants breathe with a squeak or a rattle that sounds worse than it is; others have a structural airway issue that genuinely needs attention. We assess and manage this so parents aren't left guessing which one it is.
Lumps in the neck.
A new swelling could be a reactive lymph node that's nothing to worry about, or it could need a closer look. Either way, getting it checked quickly usually settles the worry fast.
Mouth breathing.
If your child breathes through their mouth more than their nose, day or night, it's worth a look. It's often tied to congestion, allergies, or enlarged adenoids, and over months it can start to affect dental alignment and facial growth, not just sleep.
When Should You Actually Book?
You don't need to wait for things to get bad. These are the signs worth acting on:
Ear infections that keep coming back
A nose that's blocked more often than not
Loud snoring, or moments where breathing seems to pause during sleep
Turning up the TV volume, not responding to their name, or speech that seems behind
Mouth breathing, dry lips, restless nights
Something stuck in an ear or nostril
Frequent throat infections or visibly large tonsils
A neck lump that's new or growing
Ongoing throat clearing or a voice that sounds different than usual
Catching these early almost always makes treatment simpler. Left alone, a lot of these issues don't go away on their own; they just become harder to manage.
What the First Visit Looks Like
Nothing about it needs to feel intimidating. At the first appointment, Dr. Zainab will:
Go through your child's history and anything already tried
Ask about the symptoms and how long they've been going on
Do a gentle, thorough exam of the ears, nose, and throat
Suggest further tests if needed a hearing check, imaging, whatever fits the situation
Walk you through next steps in plain language, not medical jargon
She speaks English, Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati, and parents consistently mention how much time she takes to actually listen, to both them and their child.
Book an Appointment
If something on this list sounds familiar, don't wait it out. Our Pediatric ENT Clinic at JTS Medical Centre is ready to help.
Location: Jumeirah Terrace Building, Dubai
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Phone: +971 4 379 9954
Email: appointment@jtsmedicalcentre.com
Book an appointment with Dr. Zainab Arsiwala
Frequently Asked Questions
1. At what age can my child first see a pediatric ENT specialist?
There's no set minimum age. Babies are often seen for hearing screening or noisy breathing, while older kids come in more for tonsils, sinus issues, or allergies. If something's bothering you, age isn't a reason to wait.
2. Is grommet surgery actually safe for a young child?
Yes, it's one of the most common, well-understood procedures in pediatric ENT. It's short, typically done under light general anesthesia, and most kids go home the same day hearing noticeably better than they did that morning.
3. How long does recovery take after removing tonsils or adenoids?
Usually one to two weeks. Expect some throat discomfort and a soft-food diet for the first few days, but most kids are back to their normal routine within two weeks.
4. My child snores but seems fine during the day — should I still be worried?
It's still worth a look. Some kids mask poor sleep with hyperactivity or irritability rather than looking tired, so "seems fine during the day" isn't a reliable signal that everything's okay overnight.
5. Can allergies really cause ear problems?
They can. Inflammation from allergies can block the Eustachian tube, the small passage that drains the middle ear, which leads to ear fullness, fluid buildup, or repeat infections. Treating the allergy often clears up the ear symptoms too.
6. Do I need a pediatrician's referral to book with a pediatric ENT?
No referral needed. You can book directly with Dr. Zainab. That said, bringing along any notes or test results from your pediatrician tends to make the first visit more useful.
7. Will my child need a CT scan or X-ray?
Not usually. A lot of common issues, like ear infections, glue ear, or enlarged tonsils, can be diagnosed just through examination and hearing tests. Imaging comes into play for more specific situations, like a neck lump or ongoing sinus trouble.
8. What should I bring to the first appointment?
Vaccination records, a rundown of symptoms and how long they've lasted, any earlier ENT or pediatric reports, and your insurance details. If your child has had a hearing test before, bring those results along too.
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