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Why do infants pull their ears?

Taliye Cakabay1, Selin Üstün Bezgin1, Mahmut Cem Tarakcioglu2

  • 1Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital Otolaryngolgy Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.

Auris, Nasus, Larynx
|March 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Many infants presenting with ear pulling have normal findings, but otitis media with effusion (OME) is also common. Further research is needed to understand the causes of ear pulling in infants when no otologic pathology is found.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Infants often exhibit ear pulling, which can be associated with various underlying conditions.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial due to potential negative consequences of middle ear pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate diagnoses in infants presenting with ear pulling.
  • To identify factors associated with these diagnoses.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 102 infants with ear pulling/tugging complaints over one year.
  • Evaluated referral source, time of complaints, seasonality, and co-existing conditions.
  • Assessed relationships between findings and diagnoses, including allergy, atopy, and parental mental health.

Main Results:

  • Normal examination findings were observed in 46.1% of infants.
  • Cerumen (37.2%) and otitis media with effusion (OME) (16.7%) were the next most common diagnoses.
  • Referral source significantly impacted diagnosis: family referrals were more likely to yield normal/serous findings, while physician referrals showed higher OME rates.
  • Infants with OME had more additional complaints.
  • Complaint timing (during the day, few times a day, only during sleep) correlated significantly with findings (OME, cerumen, normal).
  • Parental depression was noted in 6 out of 47 infants with normal physical exams.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of infants referred for ear pulling show normal examination findings.
  • Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a frequent diagnosis, necessitating prompt identification due to its potential impact.
  • When otologic pathologies are absent, other etiological factors for ear pulling should be considered.
  • Further research is recommended to elucidate the multifactorial causes of ear pulling in infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
EarInfantOtitis media with effusion

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