Ear Infections and Chiropractic

Ear infections are common in children. Children under the age of seven are prone to them because they have a shorter Eustachian tube. They have not yet developed the resistance to bacteria and viruses that adults have. It is hard to see your child in pain and it may seem like there is little you can do. Ear infections are a common reason for a visit to the Pediatrician's Office.

A common cause of ear infections is otitis media which is inflammation of the middle ear. When the middle ear becomes infected, pressure builds up behind the ear drum (tympanic membrane) resulting in intense pain. In severe or untreated cases the ear drum may rupture causing pus to enter the ear canal. It is common for infection of the ear to follow a cold. After a few days of having a stuffed up nose, the ear may become involved resulting in intense pain.

Traditional treatment involves antibiotic therapy or surgical implanting tubes in the ears. It is important to understand that antibiotics will only help bacterial ear infections and not viral. This is because the antibiotics only have effect on bacteria and not viruses. Therefore, antibiotic therapy is useless for viral ear infections. Antibiotics can also kill the healthy flora (bacteria) used by the body in digestion and other functions. If antibiotic therapy is used, it is good to eat yogurt or probiotics to help replenish this good flora.

Ear tubes are often prescribed by doctors for those with repeated ear infections. This is to help drain fluid that often stays behind the eardrum. The tubes are made of plastic and are shaped like a hollow spool. The specialist places the tube through a small surgical opening made in the eardrum. The child is unconscious during the surgery. Side effects may include infection which may include a smelling, green discharge. Scarring of the eardrum may also occur which can cause damage to hearing.

Instead of traditional methods, many parents are now choosing a more conservative approach. Chiropractic does not treat ear infections. However, it is very common for those infected to also have spinal problems in the neck. An understanding of the nervous system can help to understand why chiropractic works so well in helping many with ear infections. Many parents understand the benefits of chiropractic and report excellent results with their children following chiropractic treatment and resolving Otitis Media

How does this work? Chiropractic helps to remove interference to the nervous system. It is common for those with ear infections to also have misaligned spinal bones in the neck. When these bones become misaligned, it causes pressure on the delicate nerves that exit the spine. Some of these nerves in the neck originate from the brainstem and continue to the ear. These nerves control, monitor and regulate the ear. Pressure on these nerves from spinal problems will result in a loss of function to the ear because nerve flow is disrupted. Otitis Media may be the result.

In addition to misaligned spinal bones, tight muscles of the neck are common. When the muscles become tense, it causes pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts around the ear. This will cause a loss of drainage that often accompanies ear infections. Chiropractic care will also help relax the muscles in the neck. Chiropractic is a great natural method to help those suffering from ear infections.