Otitis Media or more commonly know as ear infections are a common and painful
problem for young children. Almost half of young children will develop an ear
infection in their first year of life and two thirds before three years of age.
Ear infections can arise following respiratory infections and also from external
sources, such as water being caught in the ear.
During ear infections, fluid builds up behind the eardrum, causing immense
pressure and inflammation. This results in severe pain, irritability, fever and
even temporary hearing loss. The biomechanics and function of the upper part of
the neck and the ear are all related.
Chiropractic will help to maintain correct function of these areas which will
help the nervous system to perform at its optimum. Recurring infections cause
great pain to children, not to mention frustration to parents woken at night
with their child's crying.
If your children regularly experience ear infections, chances are their nervous
system is not functioning at its best and they may benefit from chiropractic
care. Chiropractic adjustments can promote better health and also act as an
alternative to other medical treatments.
Antibiotics are commonly the first avenue of treatment for ear infections which
are effective if the culprit is bacterial (antibiotics, of course, do nothing to
fight off viruses). Although this is an effective treatment, continual doses of
antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria and therefore drug becomes less
effective. Other treatments such as ear-tube surgery and adenoidectomy should
only be last-case choices for young children.
Recurring ear infections can be treated by the chiropractors at Back to Basics
Chiropractic. Dysfunction in the upper cervical spine and the muscles in that
area can prevent the drainage of fluid build-up behind the ear drum which causes
the pain. Chiropractic techniques can help to restore proper function to the
area by reducing the pressure on the eardrum, enhancing drainage and permits
long-term proper drainage of ear fluid [1].
Some simple suggestions when caring for a child suffering Otitis Media (Ear
Infections):
- Encourage the child to sleep
- Avoid activities where the child's ear will get wet, like swimming or a wetting
there head in a bath
- Try to minimise dairy products
- Increase water uptake
- Vitamin C, Garlic and Children's multivitamins may also help
- Try to minimise dummy use, as this alters the jaw position and may aggravate
symptoms
Chiropractic offers a safe, natural and effective treatment for your child.
1. Ear infection: a retrospective study examining improvement from chiropractic
care and analyzing for influencing factors. - Froehle RM - J Manipulative
Physiol Ther - 01-MAR-1996; 19(3): 169-77
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