An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by a virus and occasionally bacteria, that occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum.
Some of the latest research tells us that nearly 80% of kids will suffer from at least one ear infection before the age of 2, with many of those kids suffering from multiple infections. Add that all up and no wonder that half of all visits to the pediatrician in this country are for infections related to the ear and respiratory system. In reality, ear infections are now so common in children that most parents I discuss this with almost feel it is “normal” for their kids to get an ear infection. Just because something is common, does not mean it’s normal.
The truth is, many physicians spend the vast majority of their time doing the same things they’ve done for decades – treating the effects instead of addressing the cause of ear infections. That usually means parents walking out of the pediatrician’s office with a prescription for antibiotics. If you can’t already tell by the stats above, that’s not working very well. We’ve known since the 1980’s that using antibiotics for things like ear infections and sinus infections is not only ineffective, but often dangerous too.
Studies show that each time a child under the age of 2 is prescribed an antibiotic, it significantly increases their risk of developing asthma and allergies later on. Now fast forward a bit and ask yourself if more kids suffer from allergies and asthma than they did just one generation ago. If you’ve watched the news in the past few years, you know that we also have to deal with antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” which are caused by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics by our health care system. That is a major problem.
It doesn’t take statistics and research to realize what’s going on here. We just have to look at the health of our children and start putting the puzzle pieces together. This is merely a quick overview of how deeply seated this problem is and how much the mismanagement of this ‘common’ childhood problem sets the stage for much bigger issues down the road.
So, let’s get you the info that really matters; how to help your child when they are suffering from ear infections. Even better, how to help your child not suffer from them at all. Here is a quick synopsis of what causes them, why antibiotics are ineffective and what we strongly feel should be the first line of defense and care for kids with ear infections: Pediatric chiropractic functional care.
Firstly, most pediatricians are telling parents something like this: “Most kids get ear infections at some point, because their Eustachian tubes (“drain pipes” for the ear) are more horizontal early in life.” To keep it simple, that statement is true, but absolutely far from solving the whole riddle. The root cause of this issue is far from poor design or bad luck with genetics. It’s much more than that.
We’ve had great success caring for kids with ear infections in our office for 26 years and almost each case history roots back to these main things.
At Clarendon Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center, we address the root cause of the problem , so your child can drain and heal if they are suffering. Though ideally, they will not need to be seen in the first place. Here is what we recommend:
Oh, and did we mention that the vast majority of ear infections are viral, not bacterial?!! That’s important too!
It’s common to believe your child has to suffer from ear infections, but it certainly is not normal. Don’t let your kids suffer if you don’t have to. Consider the things recommended here before you consider antibiotics. We think you’ll really like the results.
Getting kids healthy without drugs or surgery is common practice in our office and always will be. If the approach of treating the cause instead of the symptoms makes sense to you, give us a call today to discuss getting and keeping your kiddo healthy. Here at Clarendon Chiropractic, we can help patients in Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Westmont, Willowbrook and throughout DuPage County.
