An ear infection is an inflammation and infection of the inner ear. Common among young children, the condition typically causes an earache, irritability, fever, temporary reductions in hearing and drainage of fluid from the ear, according to MayoClinic.com. Although all babies are susceptible to developing ear infections, children exposed to environmental pollutants and allergens, and those with certain infections or inherited traits or diseases, are especially at risk.
Demographic Factors
Ear infections are most common among children younger than the age of 4 while children between 6 and 18 months of age are at highest risk, according to MayoClinic.com. Alaskan or Canadian Inuits and American Indians are also more likely to develop ear infections than people of other races. The Nemours Foundation website Kids Health also notes that boys and children with a family history of ear infections are also more likely to develop infections of the middle ear.
Community and Environmental Factors
Children who attend daycare or spend time in other group settings with kids are more likely to develop ear infections because they are exposed to more infection-causing viruses and bacteria, according to MayoClinic.com. In addition, children who are regularly exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke are also at greater risk of ear infections. Poverty is a known risk factor for ear infections, as children who grow up in impoverished environments are more likely to attend daycare and grow up in homes in which the adults smoke, according to Baptist Health Systems of Mississippi.
The National Institutes of Health-sponsored website Medline Plus also notes that cold climates or sudden changes in climate or altitude can also make ear infections more likely. Ear infections also tend to be seasonal, occurring most commonly in fall and winter. MayoClinic.com explains that seasonal allergens can affect the sinuses, increasing the likelihood of nasal congestion and infections in the middle ear.
Bottle-Feeding and Pacifier Use
Babies who are bottle-fed rather than breast-fed are at increased risk of developing ear infections. Infants who feed from a bottle while lying down on their backs are especially at risk compared to babies who sit upright during feedings. According to the Baptist Health Systems, feeding in a reclined position can increase the likelihood of fluid buildup in the middle ear.
Medline Plus also notes that infants who use pacifiers are at higher risk of developing ear infections compared to babies who rarely or never use them.
Illness
According to Medline Plus, any recent illness or infection, including colds, viruses or a previous ear infection, can increase the risk of developing an ear infection. Baptist Health Systems notes that children whose immune systems are compromised as a result of conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, are particularly susceptible to ear infections because their bodies cannot effectively fight off invading bacteria and viruses. Allergies, asthma and congenital conditions, such as cleft palate or those that interfere with the Eustachian tube that connects the throat to the middle ear, also increase the risk of ear infections.
