Middle ear infection on the rise.

(From The Times of India)

Byline: Johnson T

BANGALORE: When seven-year-old Radha frequently failed to respond to questions in class, her teacher labelled her a dullard. The truth was Radha had often not heard the question. Following an untreated middle ear infection in early childhood, Radha had a fluid collection in her ear causing a partial, undetected hearing loss.

Otitis Media or infection of the middle ear affects at least two-thirds of all children before the age of one. By the time they are three-year-olds, nearly 50 per cent have had at least three infections, say international statistics.

The incidence in India has increased in the …