​OTHER REASONS CHILDREN GET OTITIS MEDIA

VIRAL INFECTIONS


​Children have poorly developed immune systems and suffer frequent respiratory infections, particularly in the first 2 years of life.  Viral respiratory infections have been shown to occur in many children 3-4 days prior to the onset of otitis media.

Bacteria:
**Children under 2 years of age do not produce antibodies against the most common bacteria causing acute otitis media. 
After 2 years of age, the immune system begins to produce antibodies against these bacteria. This developing immunity probably explains the more rapid clearing of fluid from the middle ear seen in older children after acute otitis media.

DAYCARE:

Children in large families and children who regularly attend any form of pre-school/childcare facility have up to 7 times the normal rate of ear problems due to higher rate of spreading of respiratory infections amongst groups of children.

CIGARETTE SMOKING:

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Scientific data suggests that smoking near children increases the child’s risk of developing otitis media.
WHY?
​Cigarette smoke irritates the eustachian tube and can cause it to swell, sometimes even swell shut.
Eustachian tubes must be full of air for the middle ear to work properly.
A new report from Perth's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has found a strong link between childhood ear infections and exposure to tobacco smoke.
​FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE STUDY
 http://www.childhealthresearch.org.au/news-events/media-releases/2008/may/ear-infections-linked-to-passive-smoking.aspx
ADENOIDS: 
Children who are mouth breathers or snore may have enlarged adenoids as one factor causing their otitis media. Mouth breathing is a symptom to look out for with glue ear or eustachian tubes that need emptying.
Adenoids harbor bacteria, causing viruses. 

SWIMMING:

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​Swimming in water like rivers and dams with leaf matter, dead animals, and animal faeces can be stagnant and harbor bacteria. It is dangerous for children with perforations (hole) or grommets in their eardrums to swim in rivers/dams without earplugs, as this dirty water is going through the hole and into the middle ear. This is very common out in Western NSW areas.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS: ​

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CLEAN YOUR HANDS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS...

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Lack of hand washing.
​Did you know that a swab of a child’s hands shows that 38% of live bacteria found are known causes of middle ear disease?