Possible link between dummies and ear infections
Publication Date:23/06/2008
If your child is vulnerable to ear infections and also uses a dummy, it may be worth trying to wean them off it. New research suggests that once children have had one ear infection, sucking a dummy may increase their chances of getting more in future.
What do we know already?
Most children have had at least one ear infection by the time they're 7 years old. Ear infections aren't usually serious, and most children don't need any treatment except simple painkillers, such as paracetamol.
Some children are particularly prone to ear infections, and get lots of them. However, children usually grow out of getting ear infections without any long-term problems.
Some studies in the past have suggested that sucking a dummy could increase a child's risk of ear infections. Researchers have now looked at a group of 476 children in the Netherlands, all under 4 years old, to see if using a dummy is linked to getting ear infections.
What does the new study say?
The study found that children were slightly more likely to get a lot of ear infections if they sucked a dummy. About 16 in 100 children who sucked a dummy got at least 3 ear infections, compared with 11 in 100 children who didn't use a dummy. But strangely, children who sucked a dummy were no more likely to get 1 or 2 ear infections than children who didn't.
The researchers think this might be because the first infection irritates the lining of a child's ear. This could make them more vulnerable to ear infections in future. So, sucking a dummy might cause ear infections in children who already have irritation in their ear, but not in children who don't. But this is just a theory.
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers based at the University Medical Center Utrecht, in the Netherlands. It appeared in a medical journal called Family Practice, published by Oxford Journals. There's no information in the study about who funded it.
How reliable are the findings?
The study didn't look at a huge number of children, which means we can't be completely confident in the results. Also, the researchers only asked parents if their children used a dummy at the start of the study. So, if children stopped or started using a dummy during the study, this would have made the results less accurate.
What does this mean for me?
It's a little difficult to say what the results of this study mean. It's not clear whether sucking a dummy can cause ear infections in the first place. But children who use a dummy do seem to have a slightly higher risk of getting lots of ear infections. However, ear infections are usually a mild illness, so unless your child is getting lots of them, the results of this study probably shouldn't worry you too much.
What should I do now?
It's also worth bearing in mind that cot deaths are less common in babies who are put to bed with a dummy. Cot deaths are rare after babies reach 12 months of age. And babies tend to be keenest on having something to suck when they're quite young. So, for fairly young babies, a possible risk of ear infections probably shouldn't put you off giving them a dummy.
If your child gets lots of ear infections, the new research suggests that it might be worth trying to wean your child off his or her dummy. If you smoke, giving up or making sure you don't smoke around your child may also help.
From:
Rovers MM, Numans ME, Langenbach E, et al. Is pacifier use a risk factor for acute otitis media? A dynamic cohort study. Family Practice. Published online June 17 2008.
To read more, see our information on ear infections.
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This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
