What causes babies to keep getting ear infections?

What causes babies to keep getting ear infections?

In young children, congestion and swelling from a cold virus can cause the Eustachian tube to become blocked, leading to fluid buildup and bacteria being trapped in the middle ear. “Young children catch an average of 10 to 12 viral colds per year, which can create the right condition for ear infections to start,” Dr.

How can I prevent my breastfed baby from getting ear infections?

Protection Against Ear Infections

1. Regularly wash your and your baby’s hands to reduce the chances of them catching a cold.
2. Reduce the use of pacifiers.
3. Don’t smoke.
4. Keep your infant away from second-hand smoke.

Does bath water cause ear infection baby?

Contrary to popular belief, ear infections are not caused by getting a baby’s ears wet during a bath. I get this question a lot from parents, but the truth is that fluid is coming from the back of the nose instead of the outer ear.

How can I prevent recurrent ear infections?

Prevention

1. Wash hands frequently to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria—often the root cause of the infection in the first place.
2. Breastfeed infants to reduce upper respiratory illnesses, recommends the AAP.
3. Stop smoking and eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke.

Can teething cause ear infection?

Can babies get ear infections from teething? Although teething pain and ear pain are linked, teething doesn’t cause ear infections. The thing that’s most likely to cause an ear infection is actually the common cold.

Why do breastfed babies get less ear infections?

The main reason, Chonmaitree said, is that breast milk contains antibodies that can help protect babies against infections. There’s also the fact that breast-fed babies are less likely to spend time drinking from a bottle while lying down, Bernstein noted.

Do formula fed babies get more ear infections?

Babies who are bottle-fed, especially while they are lying down, get more ear infections than breastfed babies. If you bottle-feed your child, hold his or her head above the stomach level during feedings. This keeps the eustachian tubes from getting blocked. Parents can help reduce some of the risks of ear infections.

Can bottle feeding cause ear infection?

What happens if you keep getting ear infections?

A chronic ear infection can also damage the eardrum. If the eardrum isn’t healing properly, you may need surgery to repair damage. Rarely, the infection can spread to the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear. Surgery is required to clean out the infection if it spreads to the mastoid bone.

What happens if an ear infection goes untreated in babies?

While there is fluid in the middle ear, there can be temporary hearing loss. Very rarely, an untreated acute otitis media can lead to permanent hearing loss. If your child shows signs of ear infection, he or she should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.