My 21-month-old daughter has had several ear infections and severe fluid. I would like to try chiropractic or acupuncture, instead of antibiotics. How does that work? Do you have any other suggestions?

A.

First it is important to understand the reasons for repeated ear infections and fluid behind the ear drum. Ear infections in young children occur more commonly partly because of the anatomy of the eustachian tube ( the passageway between the middle ear and the throat) in babies and children. The tube is very small and oriented horizontally which can make it more susceptible to obstruction and easier for viruses and bacteria to move from the throat into the middle ear. Factors which increase the risk of ear infections include allergies (to food and/or environmental allergens) which cause swelling in the eustachian tube causing it to close off; the use of pacifiers and bottles which increases negative pressures in the throat, eustachian tube and middle ear increasing the risk of obstruction; feeding babies and young children lying down which can allow milk or juice to flow into the eustachian tube and middle ear where it can provide an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria; and frequent exposure to viruses and bacteria that cause upper respiratory tract infections.

Fluid forms in the middle ear in response to infections and also as a result of obstruction of the eustachian tube which causes a negative pressure in the middle ear and draws tissue fluid into that space. Fluid that forms may take up to 3 months to resolve and the presence of fluid by itself does not indicate an infection. Inflammation of the eardrum, pus formation behind the ear drum, fever and acute pain do indicate an ear infection. Antibiotics can provide effective treatment for bacterial ear infections, but will not treat ones caused by viruses or treat the collection of fluid; however, they may help prevent a bacterial infection in those situations.

Naturopathic physicians have very good results with treating chronic ear infections using a combination of eliminating allergens, improving immune function, and avoiding antibiotic use except for obvious acute infections.

Because allergy is such a common predisposing factor for ear infections, especially chronic ones, it is very important to eliminate all possible allergens from the diet and the environment, especially when treating fluid behind the ear drum. 80% of food allergies are caused by dairy products, wheat, corn, citrus, eggs, chocolate and peanuts . Because milk and dairy products also cause an increased production of mucus and fluid leading to upper respiratory congestion, it is especially important to eliminate them from the diet at least temporarily. Environmental allergens like dust, pollen, smoke and animal dander can also aggravate the problem and should be reduced as much as possible, especially in the child's sleeping space.

Improving immune system function serves two purposes, one to increase the immune system's ability to fight infections and to decrease the allergic response. A healthy diet free of allergens, avoidance of refined sugars, an age appropriate vitamin mineral supplement, an essential fatty acid supplement like flax seed oil or increased intake of fish, and the use of an herbal supplement like echinacea or astragalus to enhance immune function have all been very effective in my practice.

It is vital to have a health care practitioner who can monitor the ears until the fluid has cleared in order to avoid use of antibiotics when there is not an infection present. My experience is that many children will have at least one upper respiratory infection during the several months it takes to clear the fluid. If that occurs the ears must be evaluated for infection, treated if they are and treatment provided for the upper respiratory infection.

Frequent exposure to viruses and bacteria can make treatment of chronic ear infections more difficult. It is worth looking at taking a baby or child out of day care for a time to decrease exposure while treating them.

Chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture and homeopathy can all be helpful in addition to the allergy elimination and immune system enhancement.

For more on Ear Infections Click Here >>

To search The Eclectic Physician Catalog of Nutritional Supplements for keywords relating to Ear Infections - ear infections, eustachian tube, food allergies, essential fatty acids, flax seed oil, fish oil
Click Here >>

Return to Q&A index

* The information presented in this web site is intended to inform and educate. It is not intended replace a qualified medical practitioner to diagnose or treat medical conditions.