Otitis media is a common condition in childhood, with a high incidence of recurrence and more complications and sequelae. So why are children more likely to get otitis media than adults? First, it is closely related to the anatomy and physiology of the middle ear in children. In children, the eustachian tube is short and straight, the lumen is relatively wide, the physiological narrowing of the eustachian tube has not yet formed, and the tube is nearly horizontal. Thus, the opening of the nasopharynx of the eustachian tube is almost level with the nasal floor. Due to this feature of the eustachian tube in children, it is easier for nasopharyngeal secretions and bacteria to enter the middle ear along the pharyngeal opening of the eustachian tube, causing otitis media. Second, the only channel of communication between the middle ear and the outside world, the eustachian tube, opens in the nasopharynx, which is the back of the nasal cavity and the top of the pharyngeal cavity. This location has adenoids and lymphoid tissue growth in childhood, and the lymphoid tissue growth in children at this physiological stage will be larger, which will easily cause blockage or partial obstruction to the eustachian tube opening on both sides of it, which will not only affect the drainage of the eustachian tube, but also lead to retrograde infection more easily due to the often local accumulation of bacteria and secretions. Thirdly, children’s immunity is poor, not only the immune function of middle ear is not fully developed, but also they are prone to upper respiratory tract infections and nasal and pharyngeal related infections. At this time, nasal congestion, excessive snot, active adenoids due to inflammatory hyperplasia, and accumulation of nasopharyngeal secretions and bacteria can easily enter the middle ear cavity via the eustachian tube and cause otitis media. If children suffer from infectious diseases such as measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough, the chances of the incidence of otitis media will increase. Fourth, wrong breastfeeding positions and bad habits can sometimes induce otitis media. For example, if a mother tries to save her baby’s time by letting the baby lie down to feed itself, or if she holds the baby flat to nurse, the eustachian tube will actively open when the child sucks and swallows, and because of the incorrect nursing posture, milk can easily enter the middle ear cavity through the eustachian tube. Or children like to swim, and unclean pool water can change the normal ratio of bacteria in the nasopharynx of children or enter the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube causing otitis media to occur. So many reasons make children more susceptible to otitis media than adults, so what can be done to prevent it? Here are some prevention and early detection tips: First, breastfeeding posture and method should be correct. Babies and children should be held up and fed, and manual feeding should not be done too much or too quickly. In particular, avoid letting children lie down to breastfeed by themselves, or holding them flat to nurse. Second, prevent colds. When you have a stuffy nose and your child has a lot of snot, be careful not to pinch both nostrils at the same time and blow your nose. It is best to teach your child to blow one nostril first and then the other. Once the child has a cold, pay attention to timely medication to keep the nasal passages open is very important. Third, prevent children from inserting foreign objects into the external nasal tract, and parents should not dig cerumen or take foreign objects at will. Improper removal of cerumen or foreign objects may poke the eardrum and cause inflammation in the middle ear through the damaged eardrum. Fourthly, when children cry and scratch their ears due to poor expression and otitis media, parents should think about whether their child’s ears are in trouble and bring them to the hospital for examination in time. Don’t wait until your child has pus coming out of his or her ears to find out that he or she has otitis media. Some children may not be able to tell if they have otitis media, or they may not pay attention to the symptoms. Parents should pay attention to whether their children are watching TV louder, often call out no, or teachers reflect that they are not concentrating in class. If these conditions exist, it is best to take your child to the hospital for an ear check in a timely manner.