There are a number of reasons why children get middle ear infections. They often stem from a prior infection of the respiratory tract that spreads to the ears. When the tube that connects the middle ear to the pharynx (Eustachian tube) is blocked, fluid will collect behind the eardrum. Bacteria will often grow in the fluid, causing pain and infection.
When you rub your ear with the infection on something and your ear fluid or something gets on there and someone else puts their ear on it, touches it, or gets it all over their body it will spread to them.
When you rub your ear with the infection on something and your ear fluid or something gets on there and someone else puts their ear on it, touches it, or gets it all over their body it will spread to them.