Q. My son gets chronic ear infections (he's now three). In the last year he's had about five and has been on antibiotics four times - one cleared by itself.

I've heard that ear infections can be related to a milk allergy – is this true? He also has mild eczema and a bit of asthma. I'm wondering if I should start using rice or soy milk.

-lovebeingamom

A. Allergies per se wouldn't directly cause ear infections, but the two can be related if allergies cause a chronically congested nose. Swollen passages within the nose and throat from allergies can prevent the middle ear fluid from draining properly, and backed-up fluid can become infected. If this is the case with your son, a trial of an allergy medicine like Zyrtec might be worthwhile.

Allergies (and asthma and eczema are both types of allergies) to food can make eczema and asthma worse, though.

If you remove all dairy from his diet for two or three weeks and he improves, you've made a case for the connection. Extra care needs to be taken, however, to be sure he's still getting enough calories and calcium for those three weeks.

-Dr. Sadler

Learn more about eczema and allergies.

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