Ear infection with fluid

How you can help prevent fluid in the ear

If your child gets a lot of ear infections or has had fluid in the ear in the past, you can take steps to reduce the risk that it will happen again. There hasn't been much research to show for sure that these steps help, but they might be worth trying.

If you are expecting a child and are concerned about ear infections, consider breastfeeding your newborn (or giving him or her breast milk in a bottle), even for just a few weeks. Breastfeeding rather than bottlefeeding seems to protect a child against ear infections in the years to come.

Source:
Paradise JL, Rockette HE, Colborn DK, et al.
Otitis media in 2253 Pittsburgh area infants: prevalence and risk factors during the first two years of life.
Pediatrics. 1997; 99: 318-333.

¹
Do not smoke near your child, and make sure no one else does either. Exposing your child's ears to cigarette smoke will put him or her at higher risk for ear infections and especially for fluid in the ear.

Source:
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Ear infections and earache.
AAO-HNS. 2002. Available at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo (accessed on 2 December 2008).

²

Source:
Strachan DP, Cook DG.
Health effects of passive smoking, 4: passive smoking, middle ear disease and adenotonsillectomy in children.
Thorax. 1998; 53: 50-56.

³ Research has also shown that being around smoke may mean your child's ears take longer to clear of fluid after surgery to put tubes in the ears.

Source:
Maw AR, Bawden R.
Spontaneous resolution of severe chronic glue ear in children and the effect of adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and insertion of ventilation tubes.
BMJ. 1993; 306: 756-760.

⁴
Be on the lookout for problems if your child gets an ear infection or a cold. If your child has an ear infection, ask your doctor if antibiotics are necessary (antibiotics are drugs that kill germs called

bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.

bacteria). Sometimes using antibiotics too much can cause ear infections to come back because the bacteria grow resistant to the drug. Children who get many ear infections are more likely to get fluid in the ear.
If your child is prone to ear infections, keep him or her away from playmates who have colds or other infections whenever possible.
If you choose to bottle-feed, try not to let your child use a bottle lying down. Babies who drink from a bottle lying down appear to get ear infections more frequently.

Sources for the information on this page:

Paradise JL, Rockette HE, Colborn DK, et al.Otitis media in 2253 Pittsburgh area infants: prevalence and risk factors during the first two years of life.Pediatrics. 1997; 99: 318-333.

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Ear infections and earache.AAO-HNS. 2002. Available at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo (accessed on 2 December 2008).

Strachan DP, Cook DG.Health effects of passive smoking, 4: passive smoking, middle ear disease and adenotonsillectomy in children.Thorax. 1998; 53: 50-56.

Maw AR, Bawden R.Spontaneous resolution of severe chronic glue ear in children and the effect of adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and insertion of ventilation tubes.BMJ. 1993; 306: 756-760.

This information was last updated on May 11, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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