Causes of Ear Infections  Causes of Ear Infections Causes of Ear
Infections  When I wash my 3 month old baby’s hair, I usually
get soap and water in his ears. Will this cause an ear
infection? What causes an ear infection?  10 Flares 10 Flares ×
Dr. Greene’s Answer:    (Does anybody know what ‘Eustachian’
means? Amaze friends at parties — Bartolommeo Eustachio was the
Italian anatomist who discovered this troublesome structure. The
name doesn’t tell us anything about what it does, only who
discovered it. He died in 1574, never guessing that you and I
would be discussing his tube on the World Wide Web! )     So,
what blocks the tube? Respiratory infections, irritants
especially cigarette smoke and allergies can all inflame the
lining of the tube, producing swelling and increased secretions.
They can also cause enlargement of the glands near the opening
of the tube, blocking flow at the outlet. Sudden increases in
air pressure (during descent in an airplane or on a mountain
road) can both squeeze the floppy tu