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The Truth About Ear Infections

Chances are your children have had an ear infection, if not multiple ear infections before the age of 3. Ear infections or otitis media as it is also known, is the most common illness in children.

Ear infections most often occur when bacteria or viruses get into the middle ear through a tube called the Eustachian tube, which helps to balance pressure within and drain fluid from the middle ear. Ear infections usually occur after another health challenge, such as a cold or flu. When the Eustachian tube becomes swollen or inflamed it can trap fluid within the middle ear and because Eustachian tubes in children are situated more horizontally they don’t drain as well. Ear infections can be quite painful due to increased pressure in the middle ear from the build up of fluid. However, ear infections do not always cause pain. Other symptoms might include tugging of the ears, crying more than usual, fluid draining from the ears, or trouble with sleeping, hearing, or balance.

The most common form of treatment for otitis media is a course of antibiotics. In more chronic severe cases a procedure called a myringotomy (“tubes”) may be performed.

However recent research suggests that antibiotics are virtually ineffective at treating non-severe ear infections. A 2005 study published in Pediatrics, in which 223 children were divided into two groups and treated with and without antibiotics, revealed no difference in parents’ satisfaction with their child’s care, resolution of symptoms, or failure and recurrence rate of ear infections.

Another concern with the use of antibiotics is the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A study in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal found that 3-4 days after a round of antibiotics there was a significant increase in the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria found in the nasal passages of 120 pediatric patients.

The use of antibiotics in non-severe cases of ear infections also decreases the efficiency of the child’s immune system, which can lead to further ear infections, and there is the issue that antibiotics can kill off beneficial bacterial populations in the body, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast and other microorganisms. These problems are prompting parents and doctors to seek more conservative methods for treating ear infections. In fact many physicians are now recommending a wait-and-see approach.

Regardless of the approach, no drug will cure an ear infection. The only thing that will heal an ear infection is the immune system. Any other attempt can only be considered as supportive or for the relief of symptoms. As a parent it is difficult to see your child in pain. Rather than giving them a pain relieving medication that may have harmful side effects, consider using a warm compress over the ear to alleviate the discomfort. Many homeopathic remedies, such as mullein, garlic, lavender, peppermint tea, and Echinacea have been shown to support the body’s natural defense. As always prevention is obviously best. So let’s look at some things that you can do to help prevent ear infections.

1) Chiropractic care has been found to be very effective at alleviating and preventing further ear infections. A study in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics found that out of 332 children receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments nearly 80% did not have another ear infection within the first six months of their initial evaluations.

Chiropractic is not a cure for ear infections but rather chiropractors focus on correcting imbalances within the nervous system that result from daily stresses. For children the birth process, especially with medical interventions such as use of forceps and vacuum extraction, can cause imbalances within the nervous system called subluxations that affect the body’s ability to regulate and heal itself. Just as all children should have their teeth checked on a regular basis, all children should have their neuro-spinal systems evaluated by a chiropractor on a regular basis.

2) If you are pregnant the importance of breastfeeding your child cannot be overstated. No formula on Earth can compare to nature’s formula. Breast milk is necessary for the proper development of your baby’s immune system and the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

3) Avoid exposing your child to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke and clothing and materials saturated in it have been shown to increase the incidence of ear infections.

4) If conservative treatment hasn’t been effective, your child may have a food allergy. Some common allergens include dairy, wheat, corn, soy, citrus, chocolate, eggs, and yeast. Dairy is by far the most common culprit. Eliminate any form of dairy from your child’s diet for two weeks and see if symptoms subside. If not, consider a visit to a naturopathic doctor for food allergy testing.

So once again it comes down to simple advice a well functioning spine ands nervous system, a healthy diet, exercise, and a loving supportive home. Meet these needs and your children will have a much better future!