The mother of a 2-year-old is concerned because her son has had three ear infections in the past year. What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

A) "It is unusual for a small child to have frequent ear infections unless something else is wrong."
B) "We need to check the immune system of your son to determine why he is having so many ear infections."
C) "Ear infections are not uncommon in infants and toddlers because they tend to have more cerumen in the external ear."
D) "Your son's eustachian tube is shorter and wider than yours because of his age, which allows for infections to develop more easily."

The infant's eustachian tube is relatively shorter and wider than the adult's eustachian tube, and its position is more horizontal; consequently, pathogens from the nasopharynx can more easily migrate through to the middle ear. The other responses are not appropriate. It is not unusual for a small child to have frequent ear infections, thus, it is not necessary to check the immune system. The reason that ear infections in infants and toddlers is not uncommon is not due to more cerumen but because the infant's eustachian tubes are relatively shorter and wider than the adult's eustachian tube, and its position is more horizontal; consequently, pathogens from the nasopharynx can more easily migrate through to the middle ear.