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Age: Children between ages six and 18 months are the most susceptible to ear infections, although ear infections are common from ages four months to four years. Group child care: Children cared for in group settings, such as classrooms or daycare, are more likely to get colds and ear infections than are children who stay home. Air quality: Children with exposure to tobacco smoke or higher levels of air pollution are at higher risk of ear infections. Family history: Genetics (heredity) seems to play a role in the susceptibility to ear infections. A child has a greater chance of developing ear infections if a parent or sibling was diagnosed with the condition. Race: Native Americans and Eskimos from Alaska or Canada tend to have more ear infections than do Caucasians. Hispanic children are also more susceptible to ear infections than Caucasian and African American children. Differences in the number of ear infections due to race are possibly due to genetic factors that affect the shape of the auditory tube. Gender: Boys are affected more commonly than girls, but no specific causative factors have been found. Male sex is a minor determinant of infection. Feeding position: Babies who drink from a bottle while lying down tend to have more ear infections than do babies who are held upright during feedings. Breastfeeding should also be performed sitting or standing upright, not lying down. Season: Ear infections are most common during the fall and winter, probably due to decreased humidity when home heating is used. Dry air tends to cause more viruses (colds and flu) and ear infections. Dry air can dry out nasal passages, making them more susceptible to viral penetration into the body. Birth defects or other medical conditions: Babies with cleft palate, a condition where the bones in the roof of the mouth have not grown together properly, or Down syndrome (mental retardation) are likely to get ear infections. Allergies: Allergies can cause long-term congestion (stuffiness) in the nose that can affect how the eustachian tube works. Blocking this tube, which leads from the ear to the throat, can cause fluid to build up in the middle ear. Repeat colds and upper respiratory infections: Most ear infections develop from colds or other upper respiratory infections.
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