Heeding some simple advice could help children avoid an ear infection or help identify an infection early so that parents can take action quickly.

Middle-ear infections (acute otitis media) are so prevalent that 83 percent of children under the age of 3 have had one or more, and nearly 50 percent have had three or more.

According to a recent study in Pediatrics magazine, ear infections are the No. 1 reason for antibiotic prescriptions and children's visits to the emergency room and the doctor's office.

While an infection can develop anytime, the majority occur during the cough/cold season when fluid lingering in the ear after a cold or flu becomes infected with bacteria or a virus.

Dr. Jerome Klein, an expert on middle-ear infections in the U.S., offers tips to help prevent, detect and treat ear infections.

•Keep immunizations up to date.

•If possible, breast-feed rather than bottle-feed.

•Try to avoid exposure to large groups of children, such as a large-group day care, as multiple colds may lead to frequent ear infections.

•Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.

•Practice frequent hand washing to decrease germ transmission.

Some common signs of an ear infection include fluid in the middle ear, pulling or rubbing the ear which may indicate ear pain, irritability, decrease in appetite, fever and/or runny or stuffy nose and/or cough.

Parents of infants and children with middle-ear fluid and/or other signs of an ear infection may want to consult their physician.

A child diagnosed with acute otitis media may be prescribed antibiotics.

The doctor may consider observing for 48 to 72 hours a child who has mildtomoderate symptoms and/or an uncertain diagnosis and is older than 2 years.

For more information, visit www.earcheck.com.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.