Can glue ear be prevented?

Doctors aren't exactly sure what causes glue ear so there is no way to prevent it in the majority of cases. 

However, children often develop glue ear after a cold or an ear infection so there are a number of steps you can take to try and reduce the risk of children getting glue ear: 

• Smoke-free environment: Children who live in a smokey environment are more likely to get ear infections and glue ear.  Try to make sure that your child's environment is kept smoke-free.
   
• Childhood vaccinations: It is likely that childhood vaccines will reduce the number of ear infections that children get.  Keeping your child's vaccinations up to date may help to prevent glue ear (click here for childhood vaccination schedule).
   
• Frequent handwashing can be helpful to prevent the spread of viral infections in families. Remind your child to wash their hands regularly, especially before eating and after school.