Effective January 19, we have moved to 105 County Route 45A in Oswego.
Our ENT practice offers personalized and comprehensive care of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. Our specialists are unmatched in their commitment to patient-centered care, offering high-quality services in all aspects of ENT care, both medical and surgical.
Areas of specialty
- Allergy testing
- Chronic ear and mastoid disease
- Facial plastic surgery and skin cancer problems
- Hearing loss
- Nasal obstruction and allergies
- Pediatric ear infections
- Sinusitis in adults and children
- Sinus surgery
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Tonsil and throat illness
- Voice and swallowing problems
Providers
A graduate of Le Moyne College and a native of Mexico, NY, Zachary Revette earned his Master of Physician Assistant Studies in August 2024. He also completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Chemistry Minor in 2021. Throughout his academic career, Revette honed his clinical skills in various healthcare settings, including highly specialized rotations, and demonstrated a strong commitment to patient-centered care. His dedication to his craft is further underscored by his volunteer work as an EMT-B, where he actively served in the EMS club and provided critical care in emergency situations.
Revette brings with him a wealth of diverse healthcare experience. Before joining Oswego Health, he worked as a Pharmacy Technician at Kinney Drugs, where he developed expertise in medication counseling and prescription management, ensuring that patients received comprehensive pharmaceutical care. This experience, coupled with his clinical training, has equipped Revette with a unique skill set that will directly benefit patients.
Reviewed 8/7/2025
Ear infections: True or false?
Ear infections are a common problem in children—and they can be really unpleasant for kids and parents. In addition to pain, ear infections may cause appetite loss, fever, sleep trouble, ear drainage and trouble hearing. Fortunately, the more you know about this troublesome ear issue, the better you can help your children.
True or false: Earaches are always caused by infections in the middle ear.
False. Many earaches are caused by infections in the middle ear. These infections are called otitis media and may be due to viruses, bacteria or allergies. But earaches also can be caused by infections in the outer ear (otitis externa). One of these is swimmer's ear, caused by bacteria or fungus growing in the ear canal.
True or false: Children are more prone to middle ear infections because their ear parts are smaller than adults'.
True. The passageway that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose is shorter and narrower—and more horizontal—in children. That makes it easier for the tube to become clogged.
True or false: Middle ear infections may clear up without antibiotic treatment within a week or two.
True. Antibiotics aren't needed to treat some middle ear infections, even if the infection is caused by bacteria. In many cases, treating the pain until the infection clears up is all that's needed. Infants under age 6 months, however, will always need antibiotics.
True or false: Ear infections are contagious.
False. You can't catch an ear infection from someone else. You can, however, catch someone else's cold, which can lead to a middle ear infection.
True or false: Cleaning your ears with a cotton swab can lessen the likelihood of an ear infection.
False. In fact, cleaning your ears with a cotton swab makes infection more likely. The wax in your ears is protective, and removing it can damage the lining of your ear. That can open the door for bacteria and viruses.
Most children will have at least one ear infection before they turn 3 years old. Take kids with an earache to see a doctor.
Sources
- American Academy of Family Physicians. "Ear Infection." https://familydoctor.org/condition/ear-infection.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Ear Infection Symptoms." https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Ear-Infection-Symptoms.aspx.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Ear Infections in Children: Information for Parents." https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Ear-Infection-Information.aspx.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Ear, Nose and Throat." https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/default.aspx.
- Merck Manual (Consumer Version). "Ear Canal Infection (Swimmer’s Ear)." https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/ear-nose-and-throat-disorders/outer-ear-disorders/ear-canal-infection-swimmer-s-ear.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. "Ear Infections in Children." https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ear-infections-children.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. "Why You Shouldn’t Use Cotton Swabs to Clean Your Ears." https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/have-you-heard/cotton-swabs-ears.
- National Library of Medicine Medline Plus. "Ear Infection—Acute." https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000638.htm.