Trend reversal: Big drop in kids' ear infections (smoking -vaccines-breastfeeding)

[underpants]

Source: AP

ATLANTA (AP) — Ear infections, a scourge that has left countless tots screaming through the night, have fallen dramatically, and some researchers suggest a decline in smoking by parents might be part of the reason.

Health officials report nearly a 30 percent drop over 15 years in young children's doctor visits for ear infections. That's half a million fewer trips to the doctor on average.

Why the numbers are declining is a bit of a mystery, but Harvard researchers think it's partly because fewer people smoke, meaning less irritation of children's airways. Many doctors credit growing use of a vaccine against bacteria that cause ear infections. And some think increased breast-feeding is protecting more children.

At the request of The Associated Press, the CDC checked its recent trend data on ear infections, based on annual surveys of a representative sample of doctors.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g2jwGKyBzF-vL-OrdgrzTMauNYSQ?docId=a18de03bf2254705a166baac162f9aab

[Turbineguy]

1. Well there are 3 new laws

the GOP can work on to increase suffering of small children (and the families of small children).

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I was not aware that there is a vaccine against bacteria

that causes ear infections. I am surprised that this is not given much more of the credit for reducing incidents.

Well, soon we can kiss these advances goodbye. Loss of health care and increased air pollution because of Repug policies will move this trend in the wrong direction if they are right about the causes.

[du_grad]

10. Common ear pathogens

I am a clinical microbiology technologist. Common organisms that cause ear infections include Hemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The HIB vaccine has been available for H. influenzae since the mid-80's. HIB stands for Hemophilus influenza b which used to be a very common organism seen in bacterial meningitis, which many times originated in the infected ear of the patient and spread to the spinal fluid (CSF).

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hib/

There is also a vaccine now for S. pneumoniae, the Pneumococcal vaccine. This organism causes bacterial meningitis, ear and eye infections, bacterial pneumonia and other infections in children and adults.

The current recommendations from the CDC for vaccinations for children from birth to six years are here:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hib/

[Curmudgeoness]

13. I have no kids, and have not been a kid for a long time.

I am surprised by number of vaccines recommended. Thanks for the info.

[du_grad]

20. My daughter is 30 years old...

...and I haven't dealt with this stuff since the early 80's. I work in health care and it was a surprise for me also.

[joshcryer]

30. Childrens immune systems are like their brains brains, they want to absorb everything.

[Jamastiene]

3. Wait just a few more seconds.

Ok, go.

:popcorn:

[pmorlan1]

4. I'm a smoker

I'm a smoker and neither of my two daughters ever had an ear infection.

[Confusious]

6. It's a catch all

More fish in the sea? because fewer people smoke.

lower price of tomatoes? because fewer people smoke.

Unicorns will give everyone free rides when fewer people smoke.

[Dappleganger]

8. And we're non-smokers with four kids who constantly had ear infections.

We tried shots and all kinds of meds for allergies with very little relief. Jesus, even I continue to get ear infections at least twice a year.

[CreekDog]

22. well i guess your experience trumps a comprehensive study

:eyes:

[Cirque du So-What]

9. I'll be nice and call this 'anecdotal evidence'

instead of calling it 'hearsay' or a 'non-scientific observation,' either of which is a more appropriate term for pooh-poohing a scientific study.

[EFerrari]

14. "We're sort of guessing here" doesn't sound all that methodical.

lol

[DavidDvorkin]

18. The guessing part doesn't refer to the link between second-hand smoke and ear infections

The guessing refers to the cause of the decline in ear infections.

I have my own anecdotal evidence.

I grew up in an area with little pollution but with two heavy smokers as parents. I had ear infections constantly. They were terribly painful. I lost a lot of my hearing in childhood, which had a severe emotional and social effect on me.

[EFerrari]

19. One of my kids had one ear infection. It was horrendous.

I hope the trend continues.

[pnwmom]

15. Yeah, and you might not die of lung, throat, or oral cancer, either.

That doesn't mean you aren't at an increased risk.

[CreekDog]

21. and that proves what?

nothing. :hi:

[Confusious]

5. I heard there was a reduction in the use of fossil fuels

I think that might have something to do with fewer people smoking.

[boppers]

7. Yarr!

[CreekDog]

23. you're saying the causal link between ear infections and smoking is similar to pirates and temp?

trying to trick people are ya?

thanks! :hi:

[boppers]

24. If ear infections are related to pirates, publish it!

Why should science be about facts, instead of faith!

:sarcasm:

[bitchkitty]

11. Willing to bet it's because of breastfeeding.

No dairy = fewer ear infections, throat infections, colds, etc.

[pnwmom]

16. Not just that. The mechanics are different. A baby doesn't have to suck

as hard with breastfeeding. So, with less suction creating a vacuum, fluid is less likely to be drawn into the ears.

[PassingFair]

12. I think it's because Doctors FINALLY started asking about PET ALLERGIES.

My oldest daughter had infection after infection.
We had two cats, and when the last one left us,
so did her ear infections.

No doctor EVER suggested her nasal, ear, and sinus
congestion could have been caused by allergies.

Now it's asked routinely (or it SHOULD be).

[BlueIris]

17. Kick. nt

[LeftishBrit]

25. Excellent news

(I must say that 'smoking-vaccines-breastfeeding' sounds like a title for the mother of all controversial threads in the Health Forum!) But as one who still remembers the pain of earaches at age 4 or 5, it is great that the problem is being reduced.

[elana i am]

26. hepa filters

i had chronic ear infections and allergies as a child that lasted well into adulthood and we were a petless and smokeless household. what changed for me was using hepa filters. after we got the hepa filters i was able to get a cat and had zero ear infections.

[XemaSab]

27. My mom smoked like a furnace

I had terrible ear infections as a child, and I still have severe asthma.

[X_Digger]

28. If they'd thrown in Olive Garden, circumcision, and pit bulls, this thread would have been epic! n/t

[westerebus]

29. Smoking pit bulls sue Olive Garden.

Claiming unwanted pregnancy caused by lack circumcision due to inane commercials from the eatery. Film @ eleven.



spelling

[joshcryer]

31. Haha, add in Castro and Chavez and a bit of talk about CIA imperialism...

...and you've summed up the entirety of DU discussions.