Ear Infections - Alternative Solutions

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Ear Infections - Alternative Solutions

By Shiroko Sokitch, MD

Symptoms of Ear Infection

One of the most common problems pediatricians see is ear infection.

Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection

during their first year, and by age three, over two-thirds of all

children will have had at least one middle ear infection. Symptoms

include ear pain, fever, irritability, and sometimes dizziness in older

children. Parents should also be on the lookout for more subtle signs,

such as low appetite, less than normal activity, shaking the head or

pulling on the ear and crying. Occasionally, the pressure in the middle

ear will build up to a point where the eardrum bursts, resulting in pus

and blood drainage from the ear. As alarming as this sounds, generally

the child will feel better afterwards. The tear in the eardrum allows

the fluid to drain, and the hole will usually heal within a few days.

 

Causes of Ear Infection

Otitis media (middle ear inflammation) is commonly referred to as ear

infection, even though in many cases there is no actual infection

present. Chronic ear infection can be a complex, multifaceted problem.

The four main causes are:

1. Allergy

2. Infection

3. Mechanical obstruction

4. Nutritional deficiency

Allergy

In Childhood Ear Infections, Dr. Michael A. Schmidt presents over 16

scientific studies that show that many cases of chronic ear infections

are due to food or airborne allergies or hypersensitivity reactions.

Allergies can cause significant pressure changes within the middle ear,

as well as obstruction of the eustachian tube. The most common allergens

implicated in ear infection are cow's milk and dairy products, wheat,

eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts or other nuts, shellfish,

sugar, and yeast. Dairy is the number one contributor to childhood ear

problems. Proper allergy management, such as elimination and rotation

diets, can produce dramatic recovery in allergic children with chronic

ear infections.

Infection

If immune function is lowered for any reason, bacteria or viruses from

the nose or throat can find their way into the middle ear and contribute

to an ear infection. When these germs multiply, pus builds up behind the

eardrum and increases the pressure, which leads to pain and swelling in

the ear. Often a common cold with a stuffy, runny nose or a cough

precedes the ear infection.

Mechanical Obstruction

In addition to allergies contributing to the obstruction of the

eustachian tube, another form of obstruction called biomechanical

obstruction, can further contribute to ear problems. This blockage is

due to problems of the structural components around the ear and

eustachian tube, including the bones of the jaw, skull and neck.

The head is made up of many bones that are supposed to move gently in

synchronization with one another. The movement of these bones allows for

the proper movement of the fluids in the head, including the fluids

connecting between the sinuses, eustachian tubes and ears. Many things

can change the proper movement of the bones in the head, including

falls, recurrent infections, and the trauma of birth, especially if

forceps were used for delivery. Since an ear infection contains fluid

that accumulates behind the ear drum, gentle movement of the bones of

the head to allow drainage of the fluid can prevent and cure such an

infection.

Craniosacral work is the gentle movement of the bones of a child's head

and sacrum. Using craniosacral work for treatment and prevention of ear

infections is especially helpful. Practitioners who do this work are

usually chiropractors who take a special course in cranial work, or

osteopathic physicians. Osteopaths are trained exactly like MD's and

practice medicine, but are also trained in osteopathic manipulation.

Some osteopaths specialize in the field of cranial osteopathy. When you

are looking for someone to work with your child, seek a pediatric

chiropractor or osteopath who specializes in cranial work.

Nutritional Deficiency

It is important to consider nutrition in the prevention and treatment of

ear infections. An organic, unprocessed, whole foods diet, low in sugar,

is essential for creating good health with high immune function. Dietary

fats can either enhance or impair immune function, depending on the type

of fat. The wrong types of fats (hydrogenated oils found in deep fried

foods, margarine and baked goods, and saturated fats such as meat and

dairy) can predispose a child to recurrent infections and inflammatory

conditions. Essential fatty acids (the good fats) are essential to

normal immune and nervous system function. A recent study found that the

U.S. has the highest incidence of essential fatty acid deficiency in the

developed world. Fatty acid deficiency contributes to ADD and ADHD and

other learning disorders, as well as poor immune function. Essential

fatty acids are found in flax oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil

and fish oil. This should ideally be started by the mother while she is

pregnant and during breast-feeding. One or two teaspoons per day of flax

oil, depending on age, may be all the child needs.

Deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals can weaken a child's

immunity. As with adults, most children do not get all the vitamins or

minerals they need to keep their immune systems strong. Therefore, it is

valuable to give children a good multivitamin and mineral supplement.

Vitamin C is essential to the immune system, and depending on the child,

the need may be from 250 to 500 mg of vitamin C per day. Vitamin A

deficiency has been shown in animal studies to lead to ear infection.

Zinc is necessary for proper immune function and conversion of fatty

acids.

Supplementation of the diet with intestinal bacteria is important to

healthy immunity, especially if a child has been on antibiotics. L.

acidophilus is recommended for children over age seven, and B. bifidus

for children under seven.

Breastfeeding is important to ensure that a child has a healthy immune

system. Mother's milk contains all the immune protecting complexes the

child needs. Children who are breastfed are overall healthier than those

who are not. The sucking action required to breastfeed also helps the

Eustachian tubes open and close, which makes a difference in the

frequency that a child is likely to get ear infections.

 

Antibiotics and Other Medications

Ear infections are rarely an emergency and usually will get better

without antibiotic treatment. However, there are signs that a parent

should watch for. These include high fever, listlessness, stiff neck if

the child is old enough to move his/her head, and abnormal mental

function. If these things occur, you should have the child seen

immediately for evaluation.

Research over the last 8 years has shown that antibiotics actually make

very little difference in the recovery from an ear infection. Yet,

antibiotics are usually prescribed in children with ear infections. A

reasonable approach in treating a child with an ear infection, who is

otherwise healthy, is to wait four days and see if the body will recover

without antibiotics. If after four days, the infection has not gone

away, antibiotics may make a difference. Keep in mind that if an

allergic child continues to be exposed to an allergen, or if the main

cause is not resolved, recurrent infections are likely.

From the perspective of the whole person, giving medications to block

and suppress an illness can push the illness further into the body. One

reason for recurrent ear infections may actually be the medications the

child was given to suppress the first infection, including

decongestants, Tylenol, aspirin and other drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs

block the formation of some chemicals that promote inflammation, but

they also block chemicals that naturally prevent inflammation, as well

as trigger the release of substances that make inflammation worse.

 

Herbal Medicine

Herbs are helpful to prevent and stop ear infections at various stages

of the illness. Echinacea can be given in child size dosages to prevent

a cold from causing further problems. There are also various herbal

formulas designed for children's ear infections available in health food

stores. One such formula is Herbal Wellness for kids (made by Rainbow

Light). There are other stronger formulas available from either western

or Chinese herbalists.

Lifestyle habits also make a difference in recurrent ear infections. A

child should not lie down on his or her back to drink a bottle or feed.

This is more likely to push fluids into the Eustachian tube and cause

ear problems.

These are some alternative options for how to deal with ear infections

in children. Keep in mind there are definite times when antibiotics

should be used. If you have questions about which treatment is most

appropriate, contact your holistic physician.

 

Related Articles:

.. Chiropractic for Chronic Ear Infections

.. Herbal Medicine

.. The Amazing Immunology of Breastmilk

 

Dr. Sokitch is a medical doctor practicing Traditional

and nutritional medicine. She is the director of Heart to Heart Medical

Center in Santa Rosa, California, providing the best of alternative and

conventional medicine.

 

Use the information provided in this database as an educational resource

for determining your options and making your own informed choices. It is

not intended as medical advice or to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any

specific illness. If there is any chance your child is seriously ill,

take him or her to a qualified health professional for evaluation.