Ear Infections - Otitis media

What is Otitis Media?
Otitis media is an ear infection. Three out of four children experience otitis media by the time they are 3 years old. In fact, ear infections are the most common illnesses in babies and young children.

Most often, the infection affects the middle ear and is called otitis media. The tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can affect hearing, because sound cannot get through all that fluid.

If your child does not yet talk, you need to look for signs of an infection:
* Tugging at ears
* Crying more than usual
* Ear drainage
* Trouble sleeping
* Balance difficulties
* Hearing problems

Often ear infections go away on their own, but your health care provider may recommend pain relievers. Severe infections and infections in young babies may require antibiotics. Children who get frequent infections may need surgery to place small tubes inside their ears. The tubes relieve pressure in the ears so that the child can hear again.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
sourced from www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/earinfections.html

What is the Chiropractic Approach?
The nerves from the neck region actually manage and regulate the organs of the head, including the ears, sinus and throat region. This is the basis of how spinal treatments can improve our health.

From the spinal cord comes nerves that feed the neck region (see picture). These nerves are called the 'Central Nervous System' they regulate everything.

When a vertebra rotate or 'jamb' this is what is called a subluxation and the effect is restricted nerve supply. Chiropractic treatments free up these subluxations or dislocations helping to restore this vital nerve supply to body organs ie ears.

This is an illustration of the same spinal nerves feeding the organs of the head. These include the ears, sinus areas, eyes, etc. (see picture) Chiropractic treatments help this nerve traffic (impulses) that flow out of the spinal cord regulating these organs.

What Chiropractic research tells - case studies below
Listed below are some case studies.
Chiropractic results with a child with recurring otitis media accompanied by effusion. Peet, JB Chiropractic Pediatrics, 1996;2:8-10.
This 5 year old male was used as a case study with recurring otitis media. During the time that he received chiropractic care he experienced only one middle ear infection. The previous year he had reoccurring middle ear infections every 3-6 weeks.
Chronic recurrent otitis media: case series of five patients with recommendations for case management. Fysh PN, Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1996 1(2):66-78.
Five case studies where made of chronic otitis media. They where children aged 0-5. All had been previously under medical care for their ear infections for at least 6 months previously. The infants received chiropractic treatments and management with specific adjustments. All responded to care from 3 days to 8 weeks with no residual complications.
The response of a patient with otitis media to chiropractic care.
Thill L, Curtis J, Magallances S, Neuray P. Life Work 1995; 3: 23-28.
Another case study of a 19 month old female. She had a history of acute suppurating (puss) otisis media. Antibiotics had been prescribed for 6 months previously with no results.
A four week course of intensive visits was started, symptoms had completely gone by 2 weeks. Antibiotics where stopped.

How Chiropractic helps
Every day thousands of patients visit Chiropractic clinics with different health issues. Patients often do not realise the variety of conditions that we treat. So we encourage you to call our office and talk with us, if you wish,- maybe you, or maybe a friend you know,- could be helped.

DISCLAIMER This information is provided for Educational Purposes Only and has NOT been designed to diagnose, treat or cure any health conditions. Please consult a qualified Health Care Professional to diagnose your health conditions and avoid self-diagnosis.