Got an Ear Infection?

As a parent and as you obviously understand… watching a child suffer in pain is agonizing for both the child and the parents. The sleepless night, the fevers, medications seemingly endless doctors visits are all too common in the early years of some children’s and their parent’s lives.
The standard of care for Otitis Media or middle ear infection is antibiotics, over the counter pain relievers (except aspirin… which is a huge don’t ever do in infants and toddlers), anti-histamines, variety of antibiotics when the first batch doesn’t work, and finally tubes in the ear.
Your pediatrician is the usually the first line of defense. And they are all caring, knowledgeable and have very good outcomes. But, is there another complementary option to your pediatrician’s recommendation?
What’s normal? Well, as you can see at http://advancedcmchthepoint.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a96fa98e970b0134884a8332970c-popup, this is what a normal outer, middle and inner ear looks like when there is no infection.
Now, two things…first find the Eustachian tube, found it? Good. Second, visualize the Eustachian tube as more horizontal or side ways and less on an angle represented in the picture.
Why? Because in a child the Eustachian tube is more level or horizontal and less angled as it is in adulthood. That information is important, I’ll explain why.
As you are well aware, when their is fluid build up in the middle ear, this can become infected causing Otitis Media or Glue Ear or Ear Infections.
How does fluid build up? Well the eustachian tube closes, so the fluid cannot drain properly.
Why does the Eustachian tube close or get blocked?
Couple of reasons, one of which is the mucosa lining of the Eustachian tube swells, blocking drainage. And or the muscle that controls the opening and closing of the Eustachian Tube… the tensor veli palattini is not working normally.
All of this is complicated by the fact that in early childhood, the Eustachian tube is more side lying or horizontal, which as you can imagine how much harder it is for fluid that is supposed to “drain down-hill” now has to drain side ways.
Our solution: is easy to understand.
Our goal is to help the tensor veli palatini…the muscle that controls the opening and closing of the Eustachian tube to work properly.
How exactly do we do this? Anyone who knows anatomy and physiology understands that muscles are controlled by nerves, in this case the medial pterygoid nerve, which is a branch off the cranial nerve I can get more technical, but I will respect your time.
What you need to know is this; the upper portion of your child’s neck, if outside the normal range can cause abnormal pressures to the nerve that makes the Eustachian tube open and close not work properly.
This improper function of the Eustachian tube leads to fluid build up and usually infection.
Our focus is to correct the abnormal function in the neck, relieving pressure to the nerve that controls the muscle that opens and closes the Eustachian tube. Once that is corrected, proper drainage is restored.
Complementary Requirements: We are a complement to your pediatrician’s care…not a substitute. We will only take on a case if your child is under the care of a pediatrician.
Our care uses gentle specific spinal corrections, not the traditional aggressive spinal manipulations.
Our correcting instrument is silicon coated (smushie) for your child’s comfort. Your child will not be under care forever, but there is a specific time frame, nutritional and environmental requirements to have the best chance of a positive out come.
For more information about our services regarding Otits Media or ear Infections, call 465-5358.
Have a great day.
Dr. Chris Chase is the owner of Advanced Chiropractic in Court House for the past 13 years and is a member of the ANJC, Association New Jersey Chiropractors.. You can follow Chase’s blog at www.advancedchiropracticcmch.com