Chances are, you’ve experienced an ear infection before, even if you don’t remember it. They’re incredibly common, especially in children. That being said, it seems odd to discuss them on a chiropractic blog. After all, how could the ear and the spine possibly be related? Believe it or not, there are ways that an ear infection can be helped through chiropractic care, and we at Bare Chiropractic would like to share them with you.
What Is an Ear Infection?
Before we can talk about how chiropractic can help an ear infection, it’s important to first establish what we mean by “ear infection.” The ear is a complex organ, with the inner ear holding the smallest bones in the human body.
When most people talk about ear infections, they mean an infection of the middle ear. Children in their early years are especially susceptible to acute middle ear infection, often also known as acute otitis media. By the age of three, one out of every two children will have had three episodes of infection.
Signs and Symptoms
It can be difficult to spot an ear infection in a child at first. However, there are a few key symptoms to look out for:
- Ear pain, especially when lying down
- Tugging at the ear or ears
- Unusual sleeping patterns
- Crying (more than usual)
- Irritability and refusal to cooperate
- Problems hearing or responding to sounds
- Loss of balance
- Mid-grade fever (100°F or higher)
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
Main Causes
Ear infections are usually caused by a virus or bacteria. In younger children, the Eustachian tubes—which allow the middle ear to drain—are horizontal. Because the tube is horizontal rather than inclined downward as it is in older children and adults, it drains more slowly. This makes fluid back up into the middle ear far more prevalent in infants and toddlers than it is in older children and adults. This is why small children seem to get ear infections at the drop of a hat.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Even though ear infections typically go away on their own, they’re unpleasant and might lead to hearing loss if they last too long. Fortunately, chiropractic has been shown to be a safe and effective option. The top four vertebrae in the spine—and especially the Atlas vertebra, which lies at the very top—are connected to the muscles that surround and directly affect the Eustachian tubes. A subluxation, or small misalignment, in this location might hinder fluid drainage and cause the Eustachian tubes to become blocked up.
If you or your child is suffering from an ear infection, contact us at Bare Chiropractic in Billings. Dr. Thomas Keogh knows just how well chiropractic can improve your life and health, from reducing ear infections to so much more.
Sources
Matthew Doyle et al., “Improvements in Developmental Delay in a Female Child Following Chiropractic Care: a Case Report and Selective Review of the Literature.” Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, 1796. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jcm.2012.05.006
Venekamp, Roderick P., et al. “Acute Middle Ear Infection (Acute Otitis Media) in Children.” BMJ 371 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4238
