Many conditions, medicines, and diseases interfere with the ability to heal or fight infection. Your child may be at risk for a more serious problem from his or her symptoms if he or she has any of the following. Be sure to tell your child's health professional.

Conditions

• Abnormally slow growth and development
• Babies younger than age 3 months
• A congenital defect (such as cleft palate) that increases the risk for ear infection
• Ear tubes in place
• Exposure to smoke, dust, or fumes
• Living with smokers or regularly exposed to secondhand smoke
• Premature birth

Medicines

• Antibiotics, such as sulfa or amoxicillin
• Corticosteroid treatment, such as prednisone
• Medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicine used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• A chronic health problem, such as hearing loss, that may be made worse by an ear infection
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Down syndrome
• Hemophilia
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Malnutrition
• Sickle cell disease