Chiropractic and Ear Infections

Ear infections can cause extreme pain and more pediatric visits are the result of these infections than any other child ailment. Most parents take their children to the doctor or emergency room immediately upon hearing the screams of pain brought on by the ear infection. The treatments given at the time are to stop the pain, of course, and then, generally, a regimen of antibiotics is given to the child to stop the infection and keep it at bay. In severe cases of ear infection, surgery is performed.

The common ear infection is called “otitis media” and it attacks the middle ear. Surgery for this common infection is the second highest number of surgeries performed on children under two years old. The number one surgical procedure for that age group is circumcision.

Fluids filling the ear caused by ear infections can sometimes stay in the ear for months and need to be drained to prevent hearing loss. Some doctors at this point suggest a surgical procedure known as ‘tympanostomy’ and ‘myringotomy,’ which are known commonly as “ear tubes.” The tube is placed inside a small opening in the eardrum, which allows fluid to drain from the impacted ear and it also relieves pressure and prevents ear fluid build up. Usually the tube is forced out by the ear membrane after six to eight weeks and the eardrum hole closes. This treatment seems to be effective in reducing pressure and draining fluid from the ear, but the procedure generally has to be repeated in up to one third of patients. Many times if the infections continue, children go on to have their adenoids removed, which is done under general anesthesia.

Today, more and more parents are taking their children to chiropractors in order to avoid the side effects of antibiotics and the dangers of anesthetics and surgery. Chiropractic enables fluid drainage from the middle ear and the build up of the child’s own natural antibodies by adjusting the upper neck. These adjustments allow the middle ear to drain any excess fluid and after several follow up treatments, the infection is usually gone. With chiropractic, the child’s nervous system is improved and since the nervous system controls every function in the body, the overall health of the child is improved, including the ability for the body to fight off ear infections on its own.

At Complete Health Chiropractic, we treat ear infections non-invasively in Temecula Valley. Our Chiropractors have been treating children with ear infections in Murrieta, Temecula, Fallbrook, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore since 2006.