Aside from the common cold, ear infections are the most commonly diagnosed childhood illness in the U.S., according to KidsHealth, and more than 75 percent of kids have had at least one infection by their third birthday. There are many reasons why infants are so prone to ear infections. Understanding these reasons can allow parents to take proactive measures to improve some of the conditions that can lead to ear infections.
Blocked Eustachian Tubes
The Eustachian tube serves as a conduit for fluid that travels from the middle ear to the pharynx, located near the throat. All babies are born with a Eustachian tube in each ear. When a tube gets blocked, the KidsHealth website says it traps the fluid and leaves it prey for any nearby bacterial or viral germs.
Colds, sinus infections, allergies and irritants like cigarette smoke, can cause the Eustachian tube to swell and block the passage of fluid, according to the BabyCenter website. Once the fluid becomes infected, your baby will receive an acute otitis media or AOM diagnosis, also known as an ear infection.
Adenoids are gland-like tissue structures located near the Eustachian tubes. When these grow enlarged, they can also block the tubes and cause them to malfunction.
Pacifier Use
Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections in babies. According to a September 2000, CNN.com report, researchers in Finland found children who stopped using pacifiers regularly after the age of six months had 33 percent less ear infections than those who continued to use them. Although the reasons behind why pacifier use may lead to ear infections remain uncertain, Dr. Marjo Niemela of the University of Oulu, the lead study author suggests that the sucking sensation may alter the pressure between the pharynx and the middle ear area, which can alter Eustachian tube functioning.
Short Eustachian Tubes
The Eustachian tubes of many infants are narrow, short and flat as compared to older children and even adults. This early configuration allows bacteria and viruses to find their way more easily into the middle ear area, the KidsHealth website states, and makes the tubes easy to block.
If your baby has repeated ear infections or standing fluid in the ear for a period of time, your pediatrician may recommend pressure equalizing or PE tubes. PE tubes let the fluid drain, and only prove necessary until the child's Eustachian tubes fully mature.
