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.
Causes of Otitis Media. The most common ear infection (otitis media) causes are bacteria and viruses that get inside the ear. People who are at risk for otitis media include children who are cared for in group settings, children who live with adults who smoke cigarettes, and infants who nurse from a bottle while lying down.