Is Your Child More Prone to Ear Infections?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Parenting
Ear infections are common in children, and may occur for a variety of reasons.
But certain factors — both environmental and beyond anyone’s control — may increase your child’s risk.
The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common risk factors for ear infections in children:
- Being around cigarette smoking.
- Having had ear infections before, frequent colds, or having a family history of ear infections.
- Going to a day-care center.
- Being born premature or at low birth weight.
- Going to bed with a bottle or using a pacifier.
- Being male.
- Having allergies that cause congestion.