Ineffective Care for Ear Infections

Middle Ear Infection Treatment

By the age of 3, over two-thirds of all children have had one or more episodes of otitis media or middle ear infection. There are numerous problems with antibiotic usage for children with ear infections such as: allergic reactions, GI upset, destruction of intestinal flora leading to yeast proliferation and antibiotic resistance. Tubes in the ears have a 98% recurrence of infection within two months while 25% of those with tubes suffer from hearing loss years later.

Ear infection: A retrospective study examining improvement from chiropractic care and analyzing influencing factors (1996)

This was a study of 46 children aged 5 years and under. Typical care was 3 adjustments per week for one week, then two adjustments per week for one week, then one adjustment per week. Interestingly, children with a history of past antibiotic use were associated with a less favorable outcome. “93% of all episodes improved, 75% in 10 days or fewer and 43% with only one or two treatments.”

Chronic recurrent otitis media (1996)

The author has presented a case series of 5 patients (ages 0 to 5) with chronic otitis media who had previously been under regular medical pediatric care for this condition. These children all underwent a program of chiropractic case management, including specific spinal adjustments. All patients had excellent outcomes with no residual morbidity or complications

The response of a patient with otitis media to chiropractic care (1995)

This paper discusses the case of a 19-month-old female with a chronic history of acute episodes of suppurative otitis media. Treatment consisted of four series of antibiotics over a six-month period with no improvement; antibiotics were stopped and then began a four-week course of intensive chiropractic care, with complete resolution at two weeks.

Reviewer’s Synopsis: This patient presented with glassy eyes, a runny nose, and apparent discomfort evidenced by continually tugging at both ears. The mother reported that the child had been like this consistently over the previous six months. In addition to the antibiotic therapy noted in the abstract, medical treatment also included weekly steroid injections and inhalants to control asthma…no improvement had been noticed by the mother and several emergency room visits had been required due to asthmatic attacks. Diversified adjusting at C1, T1 and right sacroiliac joint every day for two weeks. Pulling at the ears, runny nose, and glassy eyes were resolved by the second visit.

The atlas fixation syndrome in the baby infant (1987)

18-month-old boy, recurring tonsillitis, frequent enteritis, therapy resistant conjunctivitis, suffered from colds, rhinitis, ear infections and sleep disturbances. “Immediately after (spinal adjustment), the child demanded to be put to bed and, for the first time, slept peacefully to the next morning. Previously disturbed appetite normalized completely. Conjunctivitis cleared completely.”

Vertebral subluxation and otitis media (1992)

This is the case of a 23-month-old female with chronic otitis media who had orthodox medical treatment with no relief of symptoms. She had sustained improvement with chiropractic care.

A mechanism for the etiology of chronic otitis media is suggested. From the paper: “Conventional medical treatment had been administered, including numerous regimens of broad-spectrum antibiotics. 6 months before having been seen, bilateral myringotomies with tympanostomy tube placement were performed. The tubes were still in place on presentation.” Three days after initial adjustment (at C1), the patient’s ear drainage and pain were noticeably reduced. Child was soon free of all symptoms.

Sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and alternating diarrhea and constipation (1996)

Patient presented with a history of sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and alternating diarrhea and constipation. She was also suffering form ear pain and ear discharge related to chronic otitis media of 17 months duration. This condition had resisted several regimens of antibiotics as well as surgery to insert tympanostomy tubes. Three days after the first adjustment, the ear pain and discharge were substantially reduced. Continued correction of C1 eventually resulted in both ears being clear of exudate. At the time of this report, the patient has been symptom-free for approximately four years.

Chronic ear infections, strep throat, 50% right ear hearing loss, adenoiditis and asthma (1995)

4 ½-year-old female with chronic ear infections, strep throat (on and off for 4 years), 50% right ear hearing loss, adenoiditis and asthma. Had been on antibiotics (Ceclor), developed pneumonia, on bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory for asthma. Also give steroids. ENT diagnosed child with enlarged adenoids. Surgery to remove child’s adenoids and to put tubes in her ears was scheduled. Chiropractic history: cervical (C2) and thoracic (T3) and right sacroiliac subluxation. Numerous enlarged lymph nodes and muscle spasm. Chiropractic care of two times per week for six weeks scheduled. After three or four adjustments, mother noticed “a changed child, she has life in her body again…acting like a little girl again for the first time in 4 years.” After six weeks, pediatrician and ENT noticed no sign of ear infection or inflammation, “Her adenoids, which were the worst the ENT has ever seen, were perfectly normal and healthy. Hearing tests revealed no hearing loss. Family told M.D.s, ‘all medication was stopped six weeks ago when chiropractic care started.’ Shocked and confused by this answer (because medication was the only solution the MD knew), the family was told to continue chiropractic care because it had obviously worked.”