Ear Infections in Sioux Falls

A little girl holding her hand to her ear and looking pained.

Ear infections affect millions of people around the world each year and thousands in the Sioux Falls area. They can affect adults but are commonly associated with children.  As a Sioux Falls chiropractor, I am often asked by parents if chiropractic care can help with ear infections.  We have had many patients report improvement in frequency and duration of ear infections with chiropractic care, but chiropractic care doesn’t directly treat ear infections.  Chiropractic care is focused on helping the body to be better able to fight off the infection with its own natural defenses.

Causes and Symptoms of Ear Infections in Sioux Falls

Ear infections can occur in the inner ear, middle ear or external ear.  The infection can be caused by a virus or by bacteria.  The Eustachian tubes function to drain the ears and in children, they are situated in a more horizontal position. This angle, combined with children still having a developing immune system, can make them more vulnerable to ear infections.  Symptoms of an ear infection can be pain, fever, fluid draining from the ear or a feeling of fullness.  In young children, crying and irritability may be the outward signs that they have a problem.

Diagnosis and Medical Treatment

Ear infections are typically diagnosed by examining the ear with an otoscope to look for signs of swelling and infection.  In the medical world, treatment is usually based on if the health care provider thinks it is a viral or bacterial infection. If it is bacteria, antibiotics are typically prescribed.  If it is a viral infection the immune system needs to fight it off and antibiotics are usually not going to be prescribed.  If someone gets frequent ear infections tubes may be placed to help facilitate drainage from the ear to the throat.  It is common for a parent to try chiropractic care if their child has been recommended to have tubes placed and the parents are trying to avoid the procedure.

Chiropractic care and Ear Infections in Sioux Falls

When a patient comes to our office with ear infections as a complaint, we will start with a case history and then perform our chiropractic examination.  The most common areas of the spine to affect the ears are the neck and upper back.  If there is an upper neck subluxation, or misalignment, it can make it harder for the ears to drain and can make ear infections more likely.  Subluxations in the upper back and lower neck may affect the immune system and the ability to fight off an infection.  If subluxation is found, we will perform an adjustment. We may also perform some ear cupping and pressure techniques to try to help ear to drain.  If you or your child are struggling with ear infections in the Sioux Falls area, chiropractic care may be able to help.  Please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our chiropractors.

Adam Renelt, DC is the founder of Back in Balance Chiropractic. Dr. Adam grew up on a farm in South Dakota and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 2004. In 2007 he graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic with his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree and started his career in private practice. He lives in Sioux Falls with his wife and son.  In his free time he enjoys reading and being outdoors, mountain biking and hiking.

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