What Causes Ear Infections In Childhood?
Infection of the middle ear, or acute otitis media, is a common symptom in childhood. In fact, it is the most common cause of fever in the early years of life.
Review Of Traditional Treatment
Research shows that upper respiratory infections including otitis media, may be caused by improper drainage of the deep neck lymphatics 1 along with improper nerve supply. 2 In these cases, a doctor looking in your child’s ear will see a buildup of fluid behind the tympanic membrane (ear drum), with the inside of the ear appearing inflamed and the ear drum bulging.
A popular medical method of medical treatment of otitis media is prescription of oral antibiotics, usually amoxicillin. According to the Journal of the American medical Association however, amoxicillin is not an effective treatment for otitis media. 3 In fact, after administration of amoxicillin, occurrence of fluid in the ear was two to six times greater. A second study revealed that the use of antibiotics in the prevention of recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) and in the treatment of otitis media with effusion or fluid (OME) was limited, however, requiring the treatment of nine children to show an improved outcome in one. 4
A Different Approach To Childhood Ear Infections
The most recent model suggests that reduced drainage or blockage in the drainage system of the cervical (neck) lymphatic chains causes a reduction in the lymphatic outflow from the eustachian tube.
The Chiropractic Approach
A retrospective study examining improvement from chiropractic care of children with otitis media concluded that 93% of all episodes improved, 75% in 10 days or fewer and 43% with only one or two spinal adjustments. 6 Another study reported that with chiropractic adjustments it took 6.67 days to normalize the ostescopic examination in AOM and 8.57 days to normalize chronic/serious otitis media. The results indicated that there was a strong correlation between the chiropractic adjustment and the resolution of otitis media for children in the study. 7 The chiropractic approach has gained support from several similar studies. 8,9,10,11,12
When Should Your Child Be Checked For Subluxation?
Newborn infants should be checked within hours after birth. During the pushing stage of labor, the spine, particularly the neck, may be injured as the baby is compressed and pushed down the birth canal. 13
Chiropractic Is Safe And Natural
The chiropractic approach to health care is natural. It does not try to stimulate or inhibit normal body function. Instead, the chiropractor addresses the important relationship between the nervous system and disease. The systemic effect of vertebral subluxations is complex. Many childhood illnesses may be the result of abnormal body function caused by subluxations.20 In light of this, your chiropractor may be the best doctor to help your child.
Children should be checked frequently for subluxations to ensure good health.
REFERENCES
1. Fysh, P.N.: Upper Respiratory Infections in children: A Chiropractic Approach to Management, ICA Review, March/April, 1990.
2. Fay L. J.: Motion Palpation of the Spine. Huntington Beach: Motion Palpation Institute 1983.
3. Cantekin, E. I.; McGuire, T.W.; Griffith, T.L.: Antimicrobial Therapy for Otitis Media With Effusion (Secretory Otitis Media), JAMA 1991; 266:3309-3317.
4. Williams, R., MD MPH; Chalmers, T., MD., et al; Use of antibiotics in preventing recurrent acute otitis media and in treating otitis media with effusion. JAMA, Sept. 15, 1993-Vol. 270, No. 11.
5. Froom J.; Culpepper L.; Jacobs M.: antimicrobials for acute otitis media? A review from the International Primary Care Network. BMJ 1997; 315:98-102
6. Froehle, R.M.: Ear infections: a retrospective examining improvement from chiropractic care and analyzing for influencing factors. JMPT 1996; 19:169-177
7. Fallon, J.M.: The role of chiropractic adjustments in the care and treatment of 332 children with otitis media. JCCP 1997; 2:167-183.
8. Fysh, P.N.: Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol. 1, No. 2, 1996. The author has presented a case series of five patients.
9. Olson, A.L.; Klein S.W.; Charney E; MacWhinney J.B. Jr.; McInerny T.K.; Miller R.L.; Nazarian L.F.; Cunningham D., et al: Prevention and Therapy of Serious Otitis Media by Oral Decongestants. A Double-Blind Study in Pediatric Practice. Pediartics Vol. 62, May 1978, 679-84.
10. Nyiendo J.; Olsen E.: Characteristics of 217 children attending a chiropractic college teaching clinic. JMPT, 1988; 11(2): 78084.
11. Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1985: 10(1): 27-35. Musculoskeletal eustachian tube dysfunction is an important etiological factor for otitis media
12. Peet, J.B: Chiropractic results with a child with recurring otitis media accompanied by effusion. Chiropractic Pediatrics, 1996; 2:8-10.
13. Abraham, Towbin: Latent Spinal Cord Brain Stem Injury in Newborn Infants, 1969.
14. Brewer, G.; Greene J.: Right from the Start. Emmaus, Pa., Rodar, 1981.
15. Peet, J.B.: subluxation detection in Infants, Today’s Chiropractic; February/March 1990.
16. Walton, E.V.: Chiropractic Effectiveness with Emotional Learning and Behavioral Impairments, International Review of Chiropractic, 29:2-2,21-22, September, 1975.
17. Fibelibus, J.: An overview of Neuroimmunomodulation and a Possible Correlation with Musculoskeletal System Function, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, August 1989.
18. Phillips, N.J.: Vertebral subluxation and otitis media: a case study. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. Jul 1992, Vol: 8(2), pp. 38-9.
19. Kunert, W.: Functional Disorders of Internal Organs Due to Vertebral Lesions. CIBA Symposium 13(3): 85-96, 1965.
20. Winsor, H., MD.: Sympathetic Segmental Disturbances-11; The Evidence of the Association in Dissected Cadavers of visceral disease with Vertebrae deformities of the Same Sympathetic Segments, Medical Times: 49:1-7, November 1921.
Call 
