Ear infections (also known as acute otitis media) are a common issue for many children. When these infections reoccur, families can be troubled with their child in pain and many sleepless nights. Oftentimes antibiotics are ineffective and can lead to decreasing the effectiveness of the child’s immune system leading to multiple reoccurrences.
When looking at the anatomy of the ear, the eustachian tube (the tube that drains the inner ear) is more horizontal in children than in adults. Sometimes the “infection” is not actually a bacterial infection, but a drainage problem. When fluid accumulates, the area becomes red and inflamed and the child feels pressure and pain. Typically this occurs with no fever at all, and sometimes it coincides with teething pain and irritation.
Chiropractic care may help improve the drainage of the eustachian tube. Gentle, safe adjustments to the upper neck and cranial area help to improve the nerve information flowing to these areas and structurally facilitate the tube in draining. Your chiropractor may also suggest lifestyle changes (like nutrition, sleep, supplements etc) to help boost the child’s immune system.
