Middle ear infections, also known as otitis media, are among the most common illnesses of early childhood.
When an ear infection first develops it is common for a GP to write a prescription for an antibiotic with the advice to use it only if the condition does not improve within 2-3 days.
Prescribed medical treatment typically lasts through a 7 to 10 day course of antibiotics. Amoxicillin is the recommended first line therapy for antibiotic management of ear infections.
There is no evidence antibiotic use to treat middle ear infections speeds up the healing process. Many cases are caused by viruses, which antibiotics are ineffective against.
The 2010 American Journal of Epidemiology states that every infant under the age of six months old who has been on two or more rounds of antibiotics share an astounding 72% higher risk of asthma than children who do not undergo antibiotic cycles.
Numerous studies* demonstrate the effectiveness of a Chiropractic adjustment to help an infant or child overcome an ear infection.
One study showed that 93% of all episodes improved while under Chiropractic care and 75% of them improved in less than ten days. 43% of children with ear infections improved with only one or two adjustments.
Another study showed that children receiving Chiropractic care experienced fewer episodes of ear infections, reduced use of antibiotics, and fewer surgeries.
Parents simply want solutions that do not involve drugs and surgery. The statistics and numbers regarding ear infections provide ample advocacy for the healthy alternative found in the hands of a local Chiropractor.
*Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine 2003 September;157: 861-866.
“The Use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as Adjuvant Therapy in Children With Recurrent Acute Otitis Media” Miriam V. Mills, MD; Charles E. Henley, DO, MPH; Laura L.B. Barnes, PhD; Jane E. Carreiro, DO; Brian F. Degenhardt, DO.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12963590
