Otitis Media
Middle ear infections are known medically as otitis media and can be excruciatingly painful, especially in children. With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections (otitis media) are the most common illness affecting babies and young children and the number one reason for visits to the paediatrician—accounting for more than 35 percent of all paediatric visits.
Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they are a year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one such infection by age 3. The symptoms can include:
- Ear pain,
- Fever,
- Irritability.
Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems.
Standard treatment for most cases of otitis media is with antibiotics, which can be effective if the culprit is bacterial (antibiotics, of course, do nothing to fight off viruses). But, according to many research studies, antibiotics are often not much more effective than the body's own immune system. And repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria that fail to react to the drugs, leaving the child screaming in pain.
The Chiropractic Option
But chiropractic can also help. Research shows that after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, up to 80 percent of children treated can be free of ear infections for at least a six-month period following their initial visits (a period that also includes maintenance treatments every four to six weeks). The current data suggests that the majority of otitis media cases treated with spinal manipulation appear to be resolved within 10 days, most resolving with fewer than 5 adjustments and many requiring only one or two treatments. Particularly intriguing is the fact that patients with no history of prior ear discomfort were much more likely to show early improvement.
Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children, and if the ear can continue to drain without a build-up of fluid and subsequent infection, the body builds up its own antibodies and recovers more quickly. Chiropractic can also help boost the immune system in the long term, and help the child build their immune system quicker and keep it strong – aiding not only the attack on ear infections, but also other problems such as allergies and asthma.
The great thing about chiropractic is that it can be done whether the child has an ear infection or not. Chiropractic care can be used as a preventative tool in helping the muscles and joints in the neck remain relaxed and mobile and avoid any recurrence of the ear infections before they even begin.
So before you get yet another round of antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, why not consider chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections.