Ear infections in kids are almost a rite of passage — five out of six toddlers will have at least one of these infections by their third birthday. And many kids develop multiple ear infections during childhood, often as a side effect of the common cold and flu.
Our board-certified emergency medicine providers at Forest Urgent Care — Dr. Waiho Lum and Dr. Ping Wong — have years of experience helping parents navigate the world of ear infections. Here's what we want you to know about this common illness and why kids are more prone to developing them.
Most ear infections in kids are acute otitis media, which are infections in the middle ear caused by bacteria associated with streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae.
One reason why kids are so vulnerable to ear infections is because their immune systems are still developing, which means these bacteria can have more of an impact. Until kids have fully developed immune systems, they’re more sensitive to harmful bacteria and infection.
The good news is that through exposure, kids can build immunity.
Another major factor is a structural one — eustachian tubes in kids are smaller and more horizontal. Under normal circumstances, eustachian tubes in the ears are designed for drainage and, in adults, these tubes are larger and angled better for drainage.
When the eustachian tubes are more level and smaller in kids, they’re less able to drain fluid, especially if the tube is swollen and infected. That means fluid collects more easily in their middle ears and lingers there, providing a home for bacteria.
Another reason why kids are more prone to ear infections is because they spread viruses at an alarming rate. Children are often in group settings, and colds, flus, and other respiratory viruses can make their rounds very easily in this setting, especially among kids with lower immunity.
If you consider that kids get about eight common colds a year, to say nothing of flus, COVID-19, and RSV, you can understand why ear infections favor the younger populations.
In a majority of cases, ear infections do resolve on their own. This is preferable because we don’t want to encourage antibiotic resistance in kids, so we try to use this approach sparingly. We can share some great tips for managing ear infections and relieving the discomfort during a flare-up.
That said, if your child is in a good deal of pain or they get recurrent ear infections, we want you to come see us. If an infection is lingering, antibiotics can clear it up so other complications don’t develop. We also have treatments for recurrent infections, such as ventilation tubes that help keep fluid from accumulating in the ear.
For comprehensive ear infection care, schedule an appointment at our clinic in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, or walk in during office hours, which are 8am to 7pm Monday through Friday and 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
