The Air Force Safety Center is a Field Operating Agency with headquarters at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
The Finnish researchers are unsure why the use of a pacifier might lead to an ear infection, but theorized it may have something to do with the change in pressure equilibrium inside the ear caused by the sucking.
Ear Etiology Ear infections generally occur when the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat and nose, becomes blocked, often from a cold or allergies. If the fluid-filled tube becomes infected with bacteria, it can lead to swelling and pain in the ear. Ear infections can be treated with antibiotics, but often reoccur. âEar infection is the number one reason why a sick child goes to a pediatrician,â says Isaacson.