Almost
half of all children will suffer from at least one
middle ear infection (otitis media) before they're a
year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at
least one episode by age three. The symptoms of
otits media include ear pain, fever, and
irritability. If you look into the ear of a child
who has otitis media, you will be able to see a
buildup of fluid behind the ear drum, and the inside
of the ear will appear inflamed. Otitis media is
caused by either a bacterial or viral infection 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. Otitis media commonly emerges when there
is improper drainage of the lymph system in the
neck, or when the muscle that is supposed to keep
bacteria or viruses from entering the Eustachian
tubes (the tubes in the back of the throat that lead
to the inner ear) doesn’t work correctly. While both
of these things can happen in adults, it usually
does not result in an ear infection for two reasons:
First, the shape and the length of the Eustachian
tubes are different in adults, allowing easier
drainage and making it more difficult for a
bacteria
to invade. Second, adults tend to spend more time
upright than young children do, which also
encourages better drainage and decreases risk of
infection. In either
case, the underlying root cause of otitis media is
usually a mechanical problem. There is either a
reduced or blocked drainage of the lymph vessels in
the neck lymphatic chains that causes a build up of
fluid in the inner ear, or a loss of normal function
of the small muscle at the opening of the Eustachian tube in
the throat that allows bacteria and viruses from the
mouth to enter the inner ear. Instead of treatment
that tries to kill the bacteria or virus, a more
natural approach would be to restore normal drainage
of the ears and neck lymphatics. This is most
effectively done through chiropractic.
Unfortunately, the current treatment of choice for
medical doctors is to prescribe oral antibiotics,
usually amoxicillin, which can be helpful to get rid
of a bacterial infection. 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.
Most people have heard about the common practice of
placing ‘tubes in the ears’ to relieve the pressure,
and therefore pain, of otitis media. During this
surgical procedure, a small opening is made in the
eardrum and a small tube is placed in the opening.
This opening helps to relieve the pressure in the
ear and prevents fluid buildup. After a couple of
months, the body pushes the tube out and the hole
closes. Although the treatment is often effective,
it does not address the underlying cause of the
infection, which is the abnormal mechanical
functioning of the lymphatics, muscles and nerves.
If your child experiences recurrent ear infections,
it is important that you talk to your chiropractor.
Doctors of chiropractic are licensed and trained to
diagnose and treat patients of all ages and will use
a gentler type of treatment for children. By helping
to restore the normal function of the tissues of the
neck, otitis media can usually be significantly
reduced or completely eliminated in most children,
without the use of antibiotics and surgery.