Otitis Media
An acute infection in the ear is short and painful infection in the liver. For information about an ear infection that lasts a long time or comes and goes, see: chronic ear infection.
The eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that normally occurs in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up, which can cause an infection.
Ear infections are common in infants and children, in part because their eustachian tubes become clogged easily.
Ear infections can also occur in adults, but are less common in children.
Anything that causes inflammation or blockage of the eustachian tube causes fluid to accumulate more in the middle ear behind the eardrum. These causes include:
- Allergies
- Colds and sinus infections
- Excess mucus and saliva produced during teething
- Infected or overgrown adenoids
- Smoke snuff or other irritants
The ear infections are also more likely if a child spends a lot of time drinking from a glass or bottle to take sips while lying face up. However, the fact that water in the ears does not cause an acute infection in them, unless the eardrum has a hole from a previous episode.
Acute ear infections occur most frequently during the winter. You cannot catch an ear infection from someone else, but a cold may spread among children and cause some of them to get infections.
Risk factors for acute ear infections include the following:
- Attend day care (especially those with more than 6 children)
- Changes in altitude or climate
- Cold Weather
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Genetic factors (susceptibility to infection may be inherited)
- Do not breastfeed
- Use bottles
- Recent ear infection
- Recent illness of any type (lowers the body's resistance to infection)