Health Questions & Answers
Recurrent Ear Infections & Daycare

by Gregory Plemmons, MD

As parents, we often have questions about all kinds of health issues relating to our kids - from illness to prevention to child development. Come ask the experts what you want to know about pediatric health! A selection of answers to your questions will be posted on the site each week.

The question:
My 9-month old always has ear infections and the last three were in one month. My doctor says to take her out of daycare. She is only there about four hours a week. I work part-time and need someone until my husband gets home. Is it true it could be caused from daycare? - Tammy

The Pediatrician Answers:
Otitis media (commonly called a middle ear infection) is an inflammation of your child’s inner ear canal (the part behind the eardrum). This happens most commonly between the ages of 6 months to 2 years.

What can cause this to happen? The middle ear is drained by a small tube (the Eustachian tube) into the nose. This tube is more likely to become stopped up in children because it is more horizontal (and children also spend more time horizontally), which may lead to an infection. Colds and occasionally allergies may "stop up the drain" even more, and ear infections commonly follow colds. Other factors that seem to cause an increase in ear infections include exposure to cigarette smoke, lack of breastfeeding, use of pacifiers, a history of ear infections in parents or siblings, and, of course, the usual suspect -- daycare.

Children in daycare tend to have more infections of any kind in general, simply because most infections and viruses are spread most easily at this age. Toddlers and infants are touching and handling everything and placing fingers in their mouths, and even with the best hand-washing techniques it is hard to control the spread of infections.

It is hard to predict what effect taking your child out of daycare will have on ear infections. It may help tremendously. On the other hand, if your child is genetically prone to infections or continues to be exposed to smoke, for instance, you may notice little difference.

Many working parents do not have a choice as to whether or not they send their child to daycare, and the decision to withdraw your child from this childcare arrangement should be a thoughtful one involving a discussion with your physician.

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About the author: Gregory Plemmons, MD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of General Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Service to under-served and culturally diverse populations is one of his special interest areas. Says Dr Plemmons, "I see my goal as to help educate parents and aid them in making informed decisions about their children, but also incorporating the experience I've had thus far as a pediatrician."