The high number of middle-ear infections incurred by Cambodian children can be prevented through better care by parents, a doctor said Thursday.
Children, especially infants, are the most susceptible to the infection, a risk made worse if they are left alone with their bottles or tears, said Dr. Ek Samoeun, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Phnom Penh's Norodom Sihanouk Hospital.
For example, a baby left on its back, crying, can catch an ear infection if the wet tears run into its ear canal, or if milk from a neglected bottle finds its way into the ear, Ek Samoeun said, as a Washington studio guest on "Hello VOA."
Parents who monitor their children closely and make sure the child is slightly propped up can prevent an infection, he said.