When a child who has an earache is determined to have a middle ear infection by the pediatrician, the standard treatment includes a course of antibiotics. Advanced research, however, has concluded that this is often misguided. The cause of the child’s middle ear infection may not be due to bacteria, and inasmuch as antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, frequently there will be no positive response. This is because numerous cases of middle ear infection can be caused by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics. This may be the reason why children develop chronic ear infections.

One of a number of evaluations that a chiropractor can make is whether the earache or ear infection is created by irritation of the small nerves in the spine, called free nerve endings.

An aberrant tension in the small muscles of the neck is caused when these nerve endings are irritated. This muscle tension can put pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts resulting in inadequate drainage from inside the ear, thereby keeping the body from being able to naturally fix the problem. Furthermore, balance can also be affected.

Identification by a chiropractor of such a condition is made by the detection of increased tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles. Usually more tension is felt on the side of earache. In addition, the chiropractor will look to see which spinal vertebrae are either marginally out of alignment or not moving within their normal range. There are a variety of reasons for such acondition as the consequence of the many bangs, jolts, and falls almost all children undergo growing up. Frequently, a short regimen of spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles will assist in restoring normal lymph drainage. If your child is struggling with an earache or an ear infection, contact your Camarillo as soon as possible.

Advanced Research and Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most frequent childhood sickness second only to the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits each year. What’s more, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed for the condition.Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and expressly recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) commends the AAP on the guidelines and underlines that chiropractic treatment is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success – helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”

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