Middle Ear Infection Causes & Risks

Causes

This condition is caused by bacteria and viruses, such as:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae (most common)
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis
• Streptococcus pyogenes (less common)

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing middle ear infection:

• Recent viral infection (eg, cold )
• Recent sinusitis
• Age: babies and toddlers
• Season: winter
• Attendance at day care
• Babies who are forumula-fed
• Medical conditions that cause abnormalities of the eustachian tubes, such as:
  • Cleft palate
  • Down syndrome
• History of allergies (environmental allergies, food [milk] allergies )
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Babies whose mothers drank alcohol while pregnant
• Exposure to second hand smoke, usually cigarette smoke, but also from cooking and wood-heating

Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.