Ear Infections In Children And Why The Numbers Are Going Down

By Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Acute Otitis Media; the common ear infection is on the decline. I remember suffering from painful ear infections as a child and certainly as a physician I saw young children with these infections quite often in the office. But the numbers are dwindling.

Why? An article in the Journal Pediatrics finds that increases in breastfeeding, decreases in parental smoking, and vaccinations against pneumonia and influenza are the biggest reasons. If you get deeper into the numbers breastfeeding exclusively for six months or more was associated with a significantly lower risk for upper respiratory infection. Ear infections have not disappeared and certain exposure to other kids can increase the risk. We know that day care attendance and having multiple siblings are both associated with an increased risk for the infections.