Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• History of surgery or injury in or near the ear, mouth, or jaw
• Living with a person who smokes
• Personal or family history of hearing loss
• Previous ear infection
• Previous surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
• Problems present since birth (congenital abnormalities), such as cleft lip or palate or Down syndrome
• Use of hearing aids

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Repeated exposure to loud noise, either at home or in the workplace
• Listening to loud music or going to concerts
• Smoking

Medicines

• Corticosteroid treatment, such as prednisone
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Medicines to prevent rejection after an organ transplant
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• Cancer
• Chronic skin conditions, such as:
  • Acne
  • Eczema
  • Psoriasis
  • Seborrheic dermatitis
• Diabetes
• Hemophilia
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Malnutrition
• Ménière's disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Thyroid problems