Cochrane: Middle
ear infection or inflammation are broad terms to refer to acute otitis
media. It is one of the most common infectious diseases in infants and
preschool children, with 86% having an episode by the time they turn one
year old. Symptoms of an ear infection include ear pain and fever, but
it may cause hearing loss due to ear drum perforation or fluid
accumulation in the middle ear. Ear infections are usually bacterial in
origin and is commonly triggered by a viral infection. Antibiotics are
often used in treatment but they carry their own side effects and the
risk of antibiotic resistance. Influenza vaccines, more commonly
referred to as flu shots, are approved for infants after six months.
They prevent viral infections, thus may prevent the onset of an ear
infection.
