What are ear infections? Why do we get ear infections? Is there an age that is more prone to ear infections? Can chiropractic care help with ear infections? Let’s talk about ear infections.
Ear infections typically occur in the space behind the eardrum (also known as the middle ear) and are more likely to occur after a cold, flu, or allergies. This is due to the congestion and swelling of nasal passages, throat and eustachian tubes. The eustachian tube is a tube that connects the throat to the middle ear. When a child is experiencing a cold, or some sort of infections, the eustachian tube can swell and prevent air from entering the middle ear. When this happens, it can create suction and pull fluid into that middle ear space. Fluid then becomes trapped in the middle ear and is now more prone to viruses or bacteria to grow and cause infections. Generally, ear infections are more common in infancy and early childhood. The reason behind this is due to the shorter, softer, and more horizontal eustachian tube. Because of the structural differences, the tube can become blocked more easily.
Most common symptoms:
· ear pain, exacerbated when lying down
· drainage of fluid from the ear
· diminished hearing
· fever
· loss of balance
· difficulty sleeping
· headache
What to look for in children
· tugging or pulling on ears
· crying more than usual
· irritable/changes in mood
A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics looked 46 children, aged 5-years and under who were treated with chiropractic care. The research concluded that 93% showed improvement, 75% improved with a week to 10 days and 43% improved after only 1-2 treatments.
Chiropractic care is a non-drug, non-surgical, less invasive approach to addressing ear infections. With specific, gentle and regular adjustments, the body has less interference and is able to easily drain that eustachian tube while also boosting their immune system and preventing more infections from occurring. In our office, we do a full consultation with you to understand the child’s health history and perform a nerve assessment using our office technology so we can take a full body approach.
If your child is struggling with ear infections, chiropractic care can address underlying issues to ensure the body and brain are functioning as they should. Call today to schedule your appointment.
Sources
Thomas, Jan Peter et al. “Acute otitis media--a structured approach.” Deutsches Arzteblatt international vol. 111,9 (2014): 151-9; quiz 160. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0151
Ear Infections in Children, Ask Dr. Sears
Froehle, RM. Ear infection: a retrospective study examining improvement from chiropractic care and analyzing for influencing factors. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 1996 Mar-Apr;19(3):169-77.
