Children's ear infections linked to use of dummies

The study is published in the Family Practice journal and is the work of lead author Dr Maroeska Rovers of the Julius Center for Health Science and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, and colleagues.

Rovers and colleagues did the study because although recent research has shown a link between increased risk of acute otitis media (AOM, middle ear infection) and use of a pacifier or dummy, it has not been very reliable because of methodological limitations.

They conducted a five-year dynamic population study on 495 children between 0 and 4 years old living in Utrecht in The Netherlands. The children's parents filled in questionnaires at the start of the study (baseline) about use of dummies or pacifiers. AOM ear infection was diagnosed by GPs using the International Classification of Primary Care coding system.

The research showed that of the children that used a dummy or pacifier 75% had at least one episode of acute otitis media and 33% had recurrent otitis media. In children who did not use these items, 82% had only one episode of acute otitis media and 27% had recurrent otits media.

Researchers have suggested that doctors tell parents of children with recurring AOM about the likelihood of it recurring more often if they allow their child to use a dummy or pacifier.