Four out of five children develop an ear infection before their third birthday.
Ohio researchers are working on a way to combat the problem. They may be one step closer to having a vaccine to protect against childhood ear infections.
The scientists at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus are working on a liquid vaccine that you rub on the outside of the ear.
The doctor who developed it says it works by activating cells just under the surface of the skin. Dr. Lauren Bakaletz explained "These cells deliver it to the lymphoid organs where it can generate an immune response. So, really harnessing a power that's there all the time, but you're doing it in a way that's now directed toward a specific disease."
More work still needs to be done before the vaccine can be tested on children.
