Kids and Ear Infections

Ear infections are one of the top reasons parents bring their kids to the doctor. They account for about 30 million visits to the pediatrician and cost more than 2.2 billion dollars annually.

Most cases of OM occur between 6-36 months of age. It is at 6 months of age that a child begins to eat solid foods and spend less time sucking; sucking produces cranial motion which helps move fluid out of the middle ear. At this age, children begin to crawl and put their hands in their mouth as they teethe.

In children, the position of the eustachian tube is almost horizontal, whereas in an adult it lies vertically. The horizontal position makes it difficult for the middle ear to drain down into the throat. When the tissue lining the middle ear and/or eustachian tube swell, the opening of the Eustachian tube becomes obstructed, preventing drainage. Fluid builds up and presses on the ear drum, causing it to become red and painful.

Sometimes an upper respiratory tract infection (URI) will precede the ear infection. When this happens, lymph tissue in the tonsils, adenoids, and cervical (neck) lymph nodes back up into the middle ear, trapping a large amount of viral fluid. The fluid stagnates because it can’t drain, allowing bacteria to proliferate and cause an acute ear infection.

Symptoms of acute OM will vary with the age of the child. Children who can’t yet talk may pull on their ear or poke a finger into the ear canal. They may have trouble sleeping or refuse to breast feed on one side. Older children will complain of ear pain, or a buzzing or ringing in their ears. They may tilt their head to one side. At any age, they may have a fever or changes in hearing. A purulent discharge from the ear may indicate that the drum has ruptured.

Chronic or serous otitis media may cause little pain; there may just be a feeling of fullness in the ear. Hearing problems may arise, however. There are some factors which predispose kids to getting OM. One study showed that 81 out of 104 children with chronic OM tested positive for food allergy. 70 out of the 81 improved after removing the offending food(s).

Amniocentesis may cause a change in pressure of the amniotic fluid and affects cranial development, as well as birth injury from forceps, vacuum extraction, traction, or cesarean section. Second-hand smoke depletes vitamin C and causes an increased need for antioxidants in the child. Babies who are fed in a vertical position (ie. left in the crib with a bottle) cannot drain the eustachian tube effectively.

One study showed that ninety three percent of children with fetal alcohol syndrome experience OM. Children with cleft palate, Down’s syndrome and those of Native American and Eskimo decent are more prone to developing OM because of the way the cranial bones develop.

The New American Medical Association Guidelines for ear infections (JAMA 1991) state that tonsillectomy, antihistamines, and corticosteroids are not recommended. Tympanostomy (tubes) are not recommended, but may be performed. Some studies have found that the ear pain usually resolves within three days whether antibiotics are used or not. With the widespread use of antibiotics, drug resistant strains of bacteria have developed and children often will have another attack of OM 2-4 weeks after treatment. Children need to fight the infection with their own immune system in order to be well again.

So, one way to help a child who has an ear infection is to boost their immune defenses. This may be done by eliminating all refined sugar and dairy products, and reduce high fat foods. Make sure they get lots of fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables, and grains. A vitamin/mineral supplement may be considered to get adequate vitamins A, C, E, and B complex, as well as, zinc and chromium. Essential fatty acids, such as flax oil, help to enhance immunity. Golden seal is a natural antibiotic; use it with echinacea, an herbal immune system booster.

CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS allow for proper alignment of the cranium and the vertebrae in the neck, reduce accompanying muscle spasms, allow lymph drainage, and restore the proper nerve supply needed for optimum functioning of the structures in the head and neck, including the ear canal. Subluxations, or misalignments of the spine, may reduce the healing capacity of the body. Chiropractic adjustments may allow the body to self-heal by allowing full expression of the nervous system, which controls many of the bodily functions.

What Is Scoliosis

All children are born with their spine in a “C” curve. The secondary curve of the neck develops when the child is placed on his or her stomach. This position allows the baby to lift its head and develop the arch of the neck. As the baby creeps and then crawls, the secondary low back curve develops. Today, many of the baby contraptions we place babies in inhibit the development of these curves. Baby seats and swings hold the spine in a “C” configuration, preventing the secondary curves from developing. A baby’s immature spine cannot tolerate the upright posture imposed by jumpers, playpens and walkers. All devices train the baby’s balance mechanism to accept the upright posture, encouraging early walking before its spine is ready to support the weight of standing erect. Premature standing causes a flattening of the lower back, or kyphosis. Low back kyphosis puts improper pressure on spinal discs and can cause disc wedging and vertebral misalignments, or subluxations. The spine will tip to one side and then the other, to compensate, creating a curvature, or scoliosis. Because the child’s spine is still developing, they will adapt to this curve, unless the subluxations and disc wedging are corrected before puberty. For the sake of your children’s posture, forsake all the modern devices and get their spines checked Regularly!

Scoliosis is a term used to describe abnormal curvatures of the spine. From the side, the spine forms 3 curves at the neck, mid back, and low back. When you look at the spine from the back, it should form a straight line; if it curves, instead, it is called scoliosis.

What Causes Scoliosis

Scoliosis is rarely (10-15%) by a serious problem such as tumor, infection, cerebral palsy, or birth deformity. In most cases, the cause of Scoliosis is "idiopathic" or unknown. There may be a hereditary component since scoliosis tends to runs in families.

All children are born with their spine in a “C” curve. The secondary curve of the neck develops when the child is placed on his or her stomach. This position allows the baby to lift its head and develop the arch of the neck. As the baby creeps and then crawls, the secondary low back curve develops. Today, many of the contraptions we place babies in inhibit the development of these curves. Baby seats and swings hold the spine in a “C” configuration, preventing the secondary curves from developing. A baby’s immature spine cannot tolerate the upright posture imposed by jumpers, playpens and walkers. All devices train the baby’s balance mechanism to accept the upright posture, encouraging early walking before its spine is ready to support the weight of standing erect. Premature standing causes a flattening of the lower back, or kyphosis. Low back kyphosis puts improper pressure on spinal discs and can cause disc wedging and vertebral misalignments, or subluxations. The spine will tip to one side and then the other, to compensate, creating a curvature, or scoliosis. Because the child’s spine is still developing, they will adapt to this curve, unless the subluxations and disc wedging are corrected before puberty.

Recent research suggests that scoliosis may be caused by a neurological defect which affects the proper functioning of the body's growth.

How Do I Know If My Child Has Scoliosis?

Chiropractors are specialists when it comes to bones, muscles, and nerves. They can detect changes in spinal alignment before a curvature becomes very noticeable, as early as 5 years old. Often a full spine x-ray will be taken to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of the curvature. Unfortunately, most children's spines are inadequately evaluated by medical pediatricians or school nurses who do not diagnose scoliosis until the curvature has become very obvious, often very close to puberty. Early detection by a chiropractor means that any alignment problems can be taken care of before the curves become disfiguring.

Some signs of spinal misalignment to look for as a parent include: uneven hem lines (dresses always look crooked), uneven shoe wear, consistently tripping over their feet, poor posture, one shoulder higher than the other, and chest pain.

It is a great idea to bring your child into a chiropractor for regular spinal checkups, just like you bring them to the dentist to make sure their teeth are healthy.

The Chiropractic Approach To Scoliosis

Chiropractors don't treat conditions, including scoliosis, per se, but instead can detect any vertebral subluxations and correct them with gentle chiropractic adjustments. Research shows that chiropractic has had good clinical results in scoliosis control, reduction, and correction. A report of 100 chiropractic patients revealed improvement in 84% of the patients and no worsening of the curve in the other 16%.