Can chiropractic help with childhood earaches (acute otitis media)?
Yes. Otitis media is an extremely common middle-ear inflammation, usually caused by an infection that blocks the Eustachian tube. Up to one-third of the child population will have 6 or more episodes before starting school, and some can have up to 12 episodes in a year. Every year in the United States, approximately 30 percent of children under age three receive antimicrobial (antibiotic) treatment for acute earache. Scientific studies have shown little evidence of shorter duration of symptoms, fewer recurrences or better long-term outcomes for children given antibiotics for their acute otitis media than for those who did not receive the medication. Moreover, researchers have found that giving antibiotics for otitis media, increases the chance of another earache. Gentle chiropractic upper-spine adjustments can help clear the eustachian tube blockage that causes otitis media. Dietary/nutritional guidance (such as testing for food sensitivities and vitamin deficiencies) may also be offere
