Otitis media - acute; Infection - inner ear; Middle ear infection - acute

You can reduce your child's risk of ear infections with the following practices:

• Wash hands and toys frequently.
• If possible, choose a daycare that has a class with 6 or fewer children. This can reduce your child's chances of getting a cold or similar infection, and leads to fewer ear infections.
• Avoid pacifiers.
• Breastfeed -- this makes a child much less prone to ear infections. But, if bottle feeding, hold your infant in an upright, seated position.
• Do not expose your child to secondhand smoke.
• Make sure your child's immunizations are up-to-date. The pneumococcal vaccine prevents infections from the bacteria that most commonly causes acute ear infections and many respiratory infections.
• Avoid overusing antibiotics. Overusing antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance.

American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Management of Acute Otitis Media. Diagnosis and management of acute otitis media. Pediatrics. 2004;113(5):1451-1465.

Paradise JL, Feldman HM, Campbell TF, Dollaghan CA, Rockette HE, Pitcairn DL, et al. Tympanostomy tubes and developmental outcomes at 9 to 11 years of age. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:248-261.

Ramakrishnan K, Sparks RA, Berryhill WE. Diagnosis and treatment of otitis media. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:1650-1656.

Koopman L, Hoes AW, Glasziou PP, Cees L, Appelman L, Burke P, et al. Antibiotic therapy to prevent the development of asymptomatic middle ear effusion in children with acute otitis media: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;134:128-132.

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Licensure of a 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) and Recommendations for Use Among Children. MMWR. 2010 Mar 12;59(09):258-261.

Images

Middle ear infection (otitis media)

Eustachian tube

Mastoiditis - side view of head

Mastoiditis - redness and swelling behind ear

Ear anatomy

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Ear infection Treatment

Review Date: 04/26/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)