What Causes an Ear Infection?

Ear infections can be painful and make it difficult to focus and function normally. If your child is dealing with an ear infection, it can be excruciating and they can have issues sleeping, paying attention in class, or hearing properly. It’s important to understand what could cause an ear infection so that it can be avoided. Our pediatricians at Bethany Pediatrics in Ellicott City, MD, can explain what causes ear infections and how to prevent them from happening.

What Causes an Ear Infection?

Ear infections are either caused by bacteria or a virus in the middle ear. This can be because of improper drainage or sickness that your child might be dealing with. Our pediatricians in Ellicott City, MD, can explain what commonly causes ear infections because it can be brutal to see your child dealing with the pain of an infection.

If there are fluids that are building up in the middle ear, this can cause an infection to occur. It’s important that you talk to our pediatricians about creating a solution to drainage issues. This might mean that your child needs tubes installed in their ears to create proper drainage systems.

Other risk factors for ear infections could be if your child is between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old. Children of this age are susceptible to ear infections because of their developing ears and immune systems. If the air quality is poor, your child also has an increased risk of dealing with ear infections because of pollution.

Contact Our Pediatricians Today

Find out what is hurting your child’s ears! Contact our pediatricians at Bethany Pediatrics in Ellicott City, MD, to learn more about the causes of ear infections and how they can be prevented. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment today at (410) 465-7337.