Childhood protection against ear infections

Getting your child vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect them against serious diseases. Acute otitis media, otherwise known as middle ear infection, is a condition that can be caused by pneumococcal disease.

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcal bacteria. This bacterium has many different strains or types that can cause a number of conditions, which include acute otitis media, meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain and spine), septicaemia (blood poisoning) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs).

The most vulnerable to this disease are the very young, older people and those where infection is more common because of underlying conditions.

In September 2006, the Department of Health introduced a pneumococcal vaccination available to all children under two years of age, as part of the national childhood immunisation programme. You should make sure your child receives all their routine childhood vaccinations, as it is the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Click here to view our interactive wheel showing the current routine childhood vaccinations.

Is it an ear infection?

Anyone can get an ear infection, but children are much more likely to suffer than adults, as their immune systems are still developing.

To see what symptoms to look out for click here.

To check whether you or members of your family are at risk of developing an ear infection click here.