Chronic Ear Infections, Part 2

Last month we introduced the issue of chronic ear infections. Remember we stated that occasional ear infections are a very common occurrence in childhood. We also discussed the drawbacks of excessive antibiotic usage, namely, the possibility of encouraging drug-resistant bacteria. It’s usually best to allow your child’s own immune system to fight the infection, if possible. Childhood is, after all, a period of immune system building. This is why many in the medical community now take a wait-and-see approach first – good idea.

We also talked about the problem of chronic, recurrent ear infections, and that one of the most common treatments for these are the insertion of ear tubes. Again, there are risks associated with this surgery, such as the risks of general anaesthesia. There is also potential for scarring of the eardrum. Most importantly, however, is that although these tubes allow for drainage of fluid, they do not address the cause of the chronic infections in the first place. Remember that surgery is always an option you can turn to if all other measures have failed, but it most definitely should be the last option. Unfortunately, I see many parents (with the best of intentions, of course) who are too quick to go with this option.

So what about different approaches? As a chiropractor I see chronic ear infections as a malfunction of the immune system, and hence, lowered resistance; your child cannot fight off the infection adequately. This malfunction usually results from spinal stress which causes interference to the nervous system, especially in the upper cervical region (top bones of the neck, just below the skull).

So what causes this stress to the upper spine? Well, one of the most common causes is birth itself. How many of you have been through it? The stress of an average, uncomplicated delivery may cause a vertebral subluxation in the delicate bones of a baby’s spine, which in turn will affect the way your child’s nervous system and immune system reacts to the world around him. And since the nervous system controls a myriad of body functions, the same interference can manifest itself in different ways at different times of life. It may start out as colic in infancy, ear infections in the toddler years, ADHD later on, then finally headaches and migraines in the teen and adult years.

Once again, these various health issues are not the problem. They are effects, not the cause. You can treat each of these individually, or you can get to the root problem. A good analogy would be if all the lights in your house suddenly went out, would you change all the individual light bulbs, or would you check the fuse box? Obviously, the latter.

Many parents are turning to chiropractic to help with childhood health problems, including ear infections, and reporting fantastic results.

The following suggestions should help if your child suffers from recurrent earaches:

1. Avoid sugar, sweets, and junk food.
2. Avoid cow’s milk (call our office for alternatives)
3. Vitamin C daily
4. Echinacea

Most importantly, however, you need to have your child’s spine evaluated by a chiropractor, to check for spinal nerve stress.

For more information, please check out the websites listed below, and certainly give our office a call as soon as possible at 905-885-9306. We can help!

www.drpaulweber.com

http://www.icpa4kids.org/

Chronic Ear Infections, Part 1

Last month we talked about the problem of bed-wetting in children. This month I’d like to tackle another common childhood health issue: ear infections (especially chronic ear infections).

Childhood ear infections (otitis media) can sometimes be frightening to parents because they often appear suddenly, usually at night, and with little warning. Ear infection is the most common illness affecting babies and young children, and is the number one reason for visits to the paediatrician.

The most common treatment for ear infections is antibiotics, which can be effective if the culprit is bacterial, but will do nothing in the case of a viral infection. But according to many research studies, even antibiotics are not much more effective than the body’s own immune system. In fact, although there most definitely are times when antibiotic therapy is appropriate, many doctors now take a wait-and-see approach before reaching for the prescription pad.

Before I go further I should emphasize that I am not a medical doctor, and therefore I cannot give you specific advice about things like antibiotics. The purpose of this article is simply to provide general information and to make you think a little differently about this issue.

Having said all this, occasional ear infections are very common. I certainly suffered a few when I was a kid. Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they’re a year old, and two-thirds by the age of 3. A much more troubling problem is the case of chronic, recurrent ear infections. This is where the child has one earache after the other, month after month. Usually, repeated doses of antibiotics are prescribed. However, repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria, a problem which is becoming increasingly recognized by the medical profession. Of course, if the antibiotics are of little or no effect, they are often followed by a surgical procedure called tympanostomy or myringotomy, commonly known as “ear tubes”. The purpose of the tubes is to relieve pressure in the ear and prevent fluid build-up. Although this treatment certainly serves that purpose, the procedure has to be repeated in 20-30% of cases. This surgery also requires general anaesthesia, which is not to be taken lightly with small children.

But regardless of the effectiveness or risks associated with these treatments, they don’t address the underlying cause of why your child suffers one earache after the next.  Why does little Jimmy get repeated infections, while his brother Joey, who lives in the same house, goes to the same school, and participates in many of the same activities, does not? The ear infections are the effect; but there has to be a cause for their continual recurrence.

We’ll delve into that issue next month. In the meantime, if your child suffers with this problem, please don’t wait till next month to find out the answer; call us. We’d be glad to help.

Also, don’t forget our website, Blog, and Facebook page if you’re looking for additional information. We’ll see you in May!