What is an Ear Infection?
Ear infections are an extremely common condition. In fact, statistics show that ear infections affect 80 percent of children before their third birthday! What’s more, next to the common cold, ear infections send more young children to the doctor’s office than any other ailment.
A bacterial or viral infection lies at the root of most ear infections. These infections can affect the ear’s inner (vertigo), middle (otitis media), or outer part (swimmers ear). An ear infection happens when the eustachian tubes (small tubes that run from the ear to the back of the throat), become swollen or blocked causing fluid to build up in the middle ear. These tubes are more horizontal in babies and as we grow they start to run down to the back of the throat. When they are more horizontal, blockage of the tubes is more likely.
Symptoms of middle ear infections
- Difficulty sleeping due to pain
- Increased fussiness and crying in babies
- Babies/toddlers will tug at their affected ear
- Ear pain
- Impaired hearing
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Dizziness
- Impaired balance
The pain caused by ear infections can be particularly debilitating for children under the age of 5.
Ear Infection Risk Factors
These are some of the things that increase the likelihood of a child developing an ear infection, including:
- Moving or visiting an area with a significantly different climate than you’re used to.
- Traveling from high-altitude to low-altitude.
- A child that has recently had an ear infection or other illness may have an increased risk of developing an ear infection.
- Using a pacifier
- Falling asleep with a bottle in the mouth
How Can a Chiropractor Help Treat Ear Pain?
Chiropractic care is an excellent way to manage, treat, and relieve pain and discomfort of all kinds, including ear infections.
Chiropractic care provides ear infection patients with a safe, non-invasive, non-addictive alternative to prescription or over-the-counter pain medications.
The chiropractors at Crosby Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centre in St. Peters Missouri deliver a gentle, non-invasive, non-addictive therapy known as a chiropractic adjustment to treat ear pain. These adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body to reduce inflammation and improve the function of both the affected joint and nervous system. In addition they will adjust the ear to attempt to resolve a eustachian tube blockage, equalizing the pressure between middle ear and outer ear.
When you increase your joint mobility and improve your nervous system function and spinal health, your body will gain the ability to better manage pain caused by ear infections.
Here are some of the benefits chiropractic care provides to patients dealing with ear infections:
- Improve drainage in the ears
- Relief from pain and discomfort
- Decreased inflammation
- Reduced risk of requiring antibiotics
- Reduced risk of requiring tubes.
If you or someone you know is experiencing ear pain in St. Peters Missouri and you want to learn more about how our chiropractors can work with you to treat it, contact us today! Our team of experienced chiropractors uses a unique blend of the best chiropractic, acupuncture, laser, massage, wellness, and nutrition-related services to offer various solutions to enhance your health.
