health

Infections of the outer ear can be prevented by using ear plugs when
swimming, avoiding swimming in polluted water, drying the ears after
swimming or showering, and avoiding the use of foreign objects to clean
wax out of the ears. It is very easy to damage the skin of the ear canal in
this way.
Infections of the middle ear can be prevented by keeping a child
away from children with colds or upper respiratory infections; by not
exposing the child to tobacco smoke; by feeding the child in an upright
position; and by breastfeeding the child for the first six months of life.
Some doctors also recommend giving the child Prevnar, a vaccine that
protects against pneumonia and appears to reduce the risk of otitis
media as well.