Spring has arrived and the weather is getting warmer. For this weeks article I would like to talk about certain ear problems that people experience like ear infections, tinnitus and vertigo. These certain conditions can real put a damper on the spring and summer festivities. If at this point you’re asking yourself, “can chiropractic care help ear infections?” then you’ll find this article beneficial to read! Also, stayed tuned for upcoming articles about vertigo and tinnitus!

Ear Infections

With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections (otitis media) are the most common illness affecting babies and young children. These can be excruciatingly painful for children and are the number one reason for visits to the pediatrician, accounting for over 35% of all pediatric visits.

Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they’re a year old. Two-thirds of children will have had at least one by age 3. The symptoms can include ear pain, fever, and irritability. Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, 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.

Antibiotics is the standard treatment for most cases of otitis media. This can be effective if the culprit is bacterial (antibiotics, of course, do nothing to fight off viruses). 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 that scoff at the drugs, while leaving the child screaming in pain.

Studies: Antibiotics for Ear Infections

Before yet another round of “maybe-they’ll-work-and-maybe-they-won’t” antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections. Dr. Joan Fallon, a chiropractor who practices in Yonkers, New York, has published research showing that, after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, nearly 80% of the children treated were free of ear infections for at least the six-month period following their initial visits (a period that also included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks).

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) states that antibiotics are overused 69% of the time in kids with ear infections. So not only is it less effective than natural chiropractic care, it also has the bad side effect of wiping out all gut bacteria leading to digestive problems. Remember, antibiotics don’t just find bad bacteria..it kills all bacteria, of which most is good for you. This is why you shouldn’t use anti-bacterial soaps or cleaners at home.

Get Involved

Did you have battle ear infections when you were a kid? Do you still battle with them today? Leave comments below!