How common is fluid in the ear?
Fluid in the ear is very common in young children.
Fluid in the ear is the most common cause of poor hearing in children. It causes long-lasting hearing problems in 1 in 20 children aged 5 years.1
By age 10, about 4 in 5 children have had fluid in the ear at some time.2 3
Adults sometimes get fluid in the ear after illnesses such as flu, colds or throat infections, or after air travel.4
Some children are more likely than others to get fluid in the ear because they have certain risk factors. For more information, see Risk factors for fluid in the ear.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Williamson IG, Dunleavey J, Bain J, et al. The natural history of otitis media with effusion: a three-year study of the incidence and prevalence of abnormal tympanograms in four south west Hampshire infant and first schools. Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 1994; 108: 930-934.
- Casselbrant ML, Brostoff LM, Flaherty MR, et al. Otitis media with effusion in preschool children. Laryngoscope. 1985; 95: 428-436.
- Zielhuis GA, Rach GH, Van Den Broek P. The occurrence of otitis media with effusion in Dutch pre-school children. Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences. 1990; 15: 147-153.
- Teele DW, Klein JO, Rosner B. Epidemiology of otitis media during the first seven years of life in children in greater Boston: a prospective, cohort study. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1989; 160: 83-94.
This information was last updated in Nov 01, 2007
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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 2008. All rights reserved. |
