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EAR INFECTIONS
Almost
half of all children will suffer from at
least one middle ear infection (otitis
media) before they're a year old, and
two-thirds of them will have had at least
one episode by age three. The symptoms of
otits media include ear pain, fever, and
irritability. If you look into the ear of a
child who has otitis media, you will be able
to see a buildup of fluid behind the ear
drum, and the inside of the ear will appear
inflamed. Otitis media is caused by either a
bacterial or viral infection and frequently
results from another illness such as a cold.
For many children, it can become a chronic
problem, requiring treatment year after
year, and putting the child at risk of
permanent hearing damage and associated
speech and developmental problems. Otitis
media commonly emerges when there is
improper drainage of the lymph system in the
neck, or when the muscle that is supposed to
keep bacteria or viruses from entering the
eustacean tubes (the tubes in the back of
the throat that lead to the inner ear)
doesn’t work correctly. While both of these
things can happen in adults, it usually does
not result in an ear infection for two
reasons: First, the shape and the length of
the eustacean tubes are different in adults,
allowing easier drainage and making it more
difficult for a bacteria to invade. Second,
adults tend to spend more time upright than
young children do, which also encourages
better drainage and decreases risk of
infection.
If your
child experiences recurrent ear infections,
it is important that you talk to your
chiropractor. Doctors of chiropractic are
licensed and trained to diagnose and treat
patients of all ages and will use a gentler
type of treatment for children. By helping
to restore the normal function of the
tissues of the neck, otitis media can
usually be significantly reduced or
completely eliminated in most children,
without the use of antibiotics and surgery.
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