The Chiropractic Approach to Otitis Media

Chiropractic has been historically successful in treat conditions in non-invasive, natural ways. Otitis media, also known as middle ear infection is one of these conditions that chiropractors have treated.

According to the ACA (American Chiropractic Association), otitis media affects around 10 million people in the United States every year. Especially kids. It is actually the number one cause for pediatric visits. Normally, otitis media is treated with antibiotics. Although, the infection is not necessarily always bacterial, so antibiotics are not very efficient.

What Is Otitis Media?

Otitis media is one of the three main types of ear infections. Otitis media is a middle ear infection that is normally treated with antibiotics. It is normally associated with ear pain, redness of the eardrum and ear pus, and fever. 

Otitis media with effusion is when there is an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear. However, it does not present symptoms of severe or acute otitis media. This kind is more common than acute otitis media and this accumulation of fluid is normally painless. It also usually fails to go away with an antibiotic.

Causes

One of the main causes of otitis media is a blockage of the eustachian tube. This is the tube that links the nasal cavity and top of the throat to the ear. Conditions like the nose and throat swelling, as well as congestion, can cause the middle ear mucous membrane and eustachian tube mucous to swell and block the tube. This will allow fluid to accumulate in the middle ear.

If this blockage keeps going, the mucous membranes in your middle ear can get inflamed and their secretions can get thicker, compromising your middle ear’s defense mechanisms and causing otitis media.

Children are More Affected Than Adults

Everyone is vulnerable to otitis media. However, kids are more at risk than anyone else. This is mainly because their eustachian tubes are comparably smaller than in adults. In kids, their eustachian tubes are not fully developed yet and they lay way flatter than in adults. This causes the fluid to drain out with much more difficulty. 

In addition, the children’s immune system is not fully developed either. That’s why it doesn’t function as properly as adults’. This makes kids’ ability to fight an ear infection off less than adults’.

Signs of Ear Infection in Children

 If you start noticing some of the signs listed below in your children, have a specialist examine your child. Here are some of the symptoms:

• Trouble sleeping
• Fussiness and cries often
• They may tug at the affected ear
• Unable to detect low-decibel sounds
• Fluid drains from the ear
• Fever 
• Pain in the ear
• The feeling of excess pressure inside the ear
• General lack of body balance
• Mood swings

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic care can encourage the drainage of the fluid from the ear, especially upper cervical adjustments. The drainage will reduce the likelihood of the fluid building up and causing an infection. A chiropractic adjustment of the back of the skull and first cervical vertebra will be extremely helpful for this condition. Additionally, chiropractic care is very helpful in reducing the symptoms of infection in children.

Treating a middle ear infection with chiropractic care is the most non-invasive, natural, and helpful option. Your chiropractor may employ other natural therapies besides spinal adjustments to help treat otitis media. These include:

• Craniosacral therapy
• Herbal ear drops
• Immune support
• Nutrition counseling
• Soft tissue modalities – lymphatic drainage
• Endonasal procedure

Chiropractic Care in Orlando Area

A chiropractor is a holistic health expert that has many treatments to address non-spinal health problems, as well as a spinal health problem. Schedule your appointment to learn more about Mauricio Chiropractic’s approach to treating this condition.

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