Ear Infection Quiz


Take the Ear Infection Quiz

Infections of the middle ear, called otitis media, seem to be a common badge of childhood. Seventy-five percent of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday. How much do you know about this illness? Take this quiz, based on information from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

1. An ear infection usually begins with a cold.
2. Otitis media is primarily an illness affecting infants and young children.
3. The ear's eustachian tube is the primary culprit in otitis media.
4. The adenoids also play a role in the development of otitis media.
5. Children often have trouble hearing when they develop an ear infection. This hearing loss usually is only temporary, however.
6. Difficulty sleeping and loss of balance are two symptoms of otitis media.
7. Children who live in homes where there is cigarette smoke are more likely to develop otitis media.
8. Once the infection clears, fluid may remain in the middle ear for several months.