<s>[INST] How do ear infections happen? [/INST] Ear infections start when fluid that contains viruses or bacteria gets trapped in your ear. Over time, these trapped germs can develop into an ear infection.

Anyone can get an ear infection, although children get them more often than adults. This is because the tubes that connect the ears to the throat (Eustachian tubes) are smaller and more horizontal in young children, making it harder for fluid to drain away. Source: VYBE CARE. Link: https://www.vybe.care/blog/ear-infections-9-commonly-asked-questions/. Field: Otolaryngology. Disease: Ear Infection </s>