Are ear infections more common in certain racial/ethnic groups?
Native Americans (Indian and Eskimo) have very high rates of ear infections. In one study in an Apache community, 23% of the population had evidence of having had an ear infection. It is believed that Native Americans are more at risk for ear infections because they are more susceptible to one type of bacteria (Haemophilus influenzae) that often causes ear infections, even though children are now vaccinated against one common strain of these bacteria. African American children have a relatively low rate of ear infections, and Caucasian children have a risk somewhere in the middle of developing ear infections.
