Ear infection

Who's at risk?

Some children are more likely than others to get ear

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

infections. This is because they have certain risk factors. Risk factors are things that increase a person's chance of getting an illness.

Here are the risk factors for ear infections in children.

Going to day care or preschool:

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 and

viruses
Viruses are microbes (tiny organisms) that need the cells of humans or other animals to exist. They use the machinery of cells to reproduce. Then they spread to other cells in the body.

viruses that cause ear infections spread from person to person. So, children who spend lots of time with other children are more likely to catch these germs.

Source:
Froom J, Culpepper L, Jacobs M, et al.
Antimicrobials for acute otitis media? A review from the International Primary Care Network.
BMJ. 1997; 315: 98-102.

¹
Being of a certain ethnic group: White children tend to get more ear infections than black children.

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.

² Doctors aren't sure why this is. Ear infections may also be more common in American Indian and Eskimo children than in white children.

Source:
Daly KA.
Epidemiology of otitis media.
Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 1991; 24: 775-786.

³
Having a family member who's had an ear infection: Children who have a parent, brother or sister who's had an ear infection are more likely to get an ear infection themselves.

Source:
Subcommittee on management of acute otitis media.
Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media: clinical practice guideline.
Pediatrics. 2004; 113; 1451-1465.

⁴
Being a boy: Boys tend to get more ear infections than girls do.

Source:
Bluestone CD, Klein JO.
Otitis media in infants and children.
2nd edition. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 1995.

⁵ But we don't know why.
Being bottle-fed as a baby: Children who were bottle-fed as babies tend to get more ear infections than children who were breastfed. This may be because a mother's milk helps strengthen a baby's

immune system
The immune system is made up of the parts of the body that are devoted to fighting infection. The body is constantly being threatened by infections from things like bacteria, viruses and parasites. The immune system fights these infections in different ways. At the microscopic level, the immune system uses antibodies and white blood cells, which travel in the blood and target infectious agents, such as bacteria. These microscopic parts of the immune system either kill the infectious agent directly, or take it to other parts of the body, like the spleen, where it can be dealt with. The lymph nodes are another important part of the immune system. Within them, white blood cells filter through the foreign material that has entered the blood, to see if there are any infections. When you have a swollen gland during a cold, this is actually a lymph node that is reacting to the infection. Unfortunately, it is possible for the immune system to become confused and to use its destructive powers to target healthy parts of the body. Diseases that result from this type of situation are called autoimmune diseases.

immune system (the body's system for fighting infection). Also, breastfed babies tend to be held in a nursing position that lets their eustachian tubes work well.

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.

² These tubes drain fluid and germs from your baby's middle ear. To learn more about the parts of your ear, see What is an ear infection?
Being around secondhand smoke: Children with parents who smoke may be more likely to get ear infections.

Source:
Froom J, Culpepper L, Jacobs M, et al.
Antimicrobials for acute otitis media? A review from the International Primary Care Network.
BMJ. 1997; 315: 98-102.

¹

Source:
Subcommittee on management of acute otitis media.
Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media: clinical practice guideline.
Pediatrics. 2004; 113; 1451-1465.

⁴
Having an ear infection very early in life: Children who get an ear infection before they are 18 months old will probably get more ear infections in the next few years.

Source:
Bluestone CD, Klein JO.
Otitis media in infants and children.
2nd edition. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 1995.

⁵

For children who are particularly prone to ear infections, it's possible that using a pacifier could mean they get them more often.

Source:
Roversa MM, Numans ME, Langenbach E, et al.
Is pacifier use a risk factor for acute otitis media? A dynamic cohort study.
June 2008. Available at http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/cmn030v1 (accessed on 8 October 2008).

⁶ However, it's also worth remembering that young babies who sleep with a pacifier have a lower risk of crib death. If your child is over 1 year old, and is getting lots of ear infections, you could try weaning them off their pacifier.

Sources for the information on this page:

Froom J, Culpepper L, Jacobs M, et al.Antimicrobials for acute otitis media? A review from the International Primary Care Network.BMJ. 1997; 315: 98-102.

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.

Daly KA.Epidemiology of otitis media.Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 1991; 24: 775-786.

Subcommittee on management of acute otitis media.Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media: clinical practice guideline.Pediatrics. 2004; 113; 1451-1465.

Bluestone CD, Klein JO.Otitis media in infants and children.2nd edition. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 1995.

Roversa MM, Numans ME, Langenbach E, et al. Is pacifier use a risk factor for acute otitis media? A dynamic cohort study.June 2008. Available at http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/cmn030v1 (accessed on 8 October 2008).

This information was last updated on May 12, 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.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.