Ear Infections and Chiropractic Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2FV916gylk

"Mommy My Ear Hurts"

Ask any parent about ear infections, and you will most likely hear one painful story after another. Ear infections are the most common reason for visits to the Pediatricians. In fact, visits to the doctors office for ear infections have increased over 150% from 1975-1995. It is estimated that over 30 million visits are made every year in an attempt to deal with this problem.

Historically, the treatment for ear infections has been antibiotics. This treatment has come under severe attack over the past several years for many reasons.

First, the overuse of antibiotics has led to what is termed "antibiotic resistant bacteria." These bacteria have "evolved" and changed so that the antibiotics no longer affect them. This phenomena has caused the prescription of much stronger antibiotics, which is leading to more and more resistance.

The second and most important reason to question antibiotic use for ear infections is that study after study has proven that they are ineffective for the infection. In other words, THEY DON'T WORK! One study proved a child suffering from an ear infection and given amoxicillin, was 2-6 times more likely to suffer recurrent infections. This is why repeated, stronger antibiotic use is so common.

The reason an ear infection continually recurs is twofold. First, antibiotics kill most bacteria in the body, including the "good" bacteria your body needs. This is why repeated, stronger antibiotic use is so common.

In addition, antibiotics merely attempt to treat the symptoms of the infection, but do not address the actual cause of the ear infection, and therefore, allow the infection to return.

What causes ear infections?

The real question is what causes ear infections. An infection in the ear is an indication of a greater problem, and the vast majority of infections are secondary to a cold or other condition which may be due to a depressed immune system.

Another reason children suffer from ear infections is because of the actual anatomy of the year ear. In adulthood, the Eustachian tube is at nearly a 45 degree angle. In children, the Eustachian tube is nearly horizontal. This often slows the draining of these tubes, allowing fluid to build, and infection to appear.

The obvious question for parents is, "What can we do?" The answer lies in a new way of thinking.

As a Chiropractor, my primary goal is to address the root cause of health problems. Masking symptoms with drugs has proven ineffective and dangerous. When dealing with your children and ear infections, my goal is to correct the actual cause, therefore making painful infections a thing of the past.

There is a direct link between the nerves of the neck and the muscles of the Eustachian tube and the middle ear. The middle ear drains any fluid through the Eustachian tube. These tubes open and close through the action of a muscle, which is controlled by a nerve. This nerve originates in the neck. When this nerve is not functioning properly, the muscles controlling the ear may go into spasm, which constricts the drainage from the tubes. This fluid and a stressed immune system can result in an ear infection.

Chiropractic is proving to be the most effective treatment for ear infections. Studies have shown 93% of all ear infections improved with Chiropractic care.

Ear Infection Facts:

· Statistics show that 85% of all children suffer from ear infections.

· Ear infections are the #1 reason for visits to the pediatrician.

· Ear infections are the #1 reason for visits to the emergency room.

· In the United States, it is reported that there are over 30 million visits to the pediatrician for ear infections alone.

· Amoxicillin and other antibiotics are the most frequently used forms of therapy.

· Numerous studies reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, etc, have shown antibiotics to be ineffective, and inappropriate for the treatment of ear infections.

· Antibiotic resistant bacteria are one of the fastest growing and greatest concerns in the health fields. Research attributes much of this problem to the over prescription and overuse of antibiotics for ear infections.

· The diagnosis and treatment of ear infections has risen nearly 60% in the last 20 years.

· Tympanostomy, or tubes in the ear, fails many times at reducing the occurrence of ear infections, and may be associated with long-term hearing loss.

· The profit of sales of antibiotics and treatment for ear infections exceeds 2 billions dollars per year.

· Research has demonstrated that up to 70% of ear aches are caused by viruses, which are not affected by antibiotics. Even with this statistic, antibiotics are still prescribed the majority of the time.

· Multiple studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care may help decrease the rate of otitis mediai (ear infection) by 80% or more, and that the rate of reoccurrence is very low.