Crappy Design

Children are apparently more likely to get it though I got a lot of ear infections and had tubes in my ears when I was a baby. I had a ear infection after someone was smoking a couple years back and lost hearing completely in one of my ears due to it, wasn't sick with anything viral before.

When I was a kid I remember one ear infection that caused my ears to leak a liquid that was dry and would make my cheeks crusty. My grandpa used to smoke in front of us before smoking ban.

Can find a bunch of articles on the link with second hand smoking and ear infections here's one.

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/secondhand-smoke-ear-infections-otitis-media/