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Bacteria
AOM is often caused by bacteria, and Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common bacterial cause of AOM. Î Ensure your child is up to date on vaccinations, including the pneumococcal vaccination which
protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Breast feeding exclusively until your baby is 6 months old and continuing to breastfeed for at least 12 months can protect your baby from infections, including AOM.
Cold and Flu Season
AOM often occurs after a cold. Viruses cause OME (fluid in the middle ear), and then bacteria can grow in the fluid leading to AOM.
Î Ensure your child is up to date on vaccinations and gets a flu vaccine every year.
Injury to the Ear
Foreign objects, like cotton swabs and bobby pins, can cause cuts and bruises in the ear canal that can get infected, causing acute otitis external AOE.
Î Avoid putting foreign objects in the ear.
How are ear infections treated?
• AOE is usually treated with antibiotic ear drops.
• OME usually goes away on its own and does not benefit from antibiotics.
• AOM may not need antibiotics in many cases because the body’s immune system can fight off the infection without help from antibiotics, but sometimes antibiotics are needed.