Ear infections occur when either a virus or bacteria infects the ear and causes symptoms such as pain, discharge, difficulty hearing, itchiness or fever. Millions of Americans are affected by ear infections each year and it has been estimated by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders that 80% of children may suffer from an ear infection before the age of 3. As a chiropractor in Sioux Falls, I often get asked if chiropractic care may be able to help with ear infections.
What Causes an Ear Infection?
Ear infections are caused when a virus or bacteria in the ear and causes swelling in the outer, middle or inner ear. The most common type is called otitis media and occurs in the middle portion of the ear. An ear infection can occur on its own but often presents at the same time as other symptoms such as allergies or an upper respiratory infection. Swimming can be a risk factor as well. Ear infections can affect a person of any age but are most common in children. Kids are at a higher risk in part because the Eustachian tubes that connect the ear to the throat are more horizontal in children (due to their shorter neck) when compared to adults. This makes it harder for the ears to drain. Also, children may not have as strong of an immune system as compared to adults to fight off infection.
Medical Treatment and Diagnosis of Ear Infections
An ear infection is typically diagnosed by using an otoscope to visualize the ear and this is typically done during a visit to a medical doctor. Treatment for a bacterial infection may be antibiotics while a viral infection will need to be defeated by the body’s immune system. Pain relievers, ear drops, decongestants and steroids may also be used to help decrease the symptoms of the infection. The current standard of care is to not treat an infection with antibiotics unless the infection hasn’t improved on its own within 2 weeks.
Ear Infections and Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care doesn’t directly treat ear infections. Rather the focus is on checking for spinal subluxations that may prevent the ear from draining correctly. These are most commonly found in the neck or upper back and are corrected with a spinal adjustment. Another way that chiropractic care may help is to boost the immune system to help fight off infection. As stated above, the focus is on correcting the spinal misalignment and not directly treating an infection. In practice, we have often found that when the subluxations are corrected a patient is less likely to suffer from ear infections. If you would like to schedule a chiropractic consultation for you or your child, please contact our office to schedule an appointment. We would welcome the opportunity to help you through chiropractic care.