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Middle ear infection prompts over 30 million visits to the doctor each year in the U.S. alone. In 1990, it was estimated that the number of antibiotic prescriptions given to children for ear infections was over 25 million, with over 1 billion individual doses of antibiotics given to children for ear infections yearly. In other parts of the world (e.g. Scandinavia), physicians use antibiotics only when complications develop or are expected to develop.
Some 88% of ear infections will clear on their own with out antibiotics or other treatment, yet the number one surgical procedure performed in the U.S. is the insertion of tympanostomy tubes (plastic grommets punched through the ear drum under general anaesthetic). Some 2 million are inserted each year, at a cost of over $2 billion. During surgery, accumulated cellular debris is often cleaned from the middle ear to "ventilate" it; this relieves pressure but does little to address the causes of otitis media. Worse still, some 76% of children require replacement tubes within 4 years of initial tube insertion.
At the time of writing, there we no studies demonstrating that tubes work better than non-surgical treatment. Some recent studies, however, have compared tympanostomy tubes to antibiotic therapy and myringotomy. The group with tubes developed a higher rate of recurrent otitis, hearing loss, ear drum retraction, and tympanosclerosis (atrophy and scarring at the site of tube insertion).
Treatment & Prevention
Over 30 studies support naturopathic protocols for the treatment of otitis media. Naturopathic treatment consists of screening for food and environmental sensitivities, correcting nutrient deficiencies, and increasing the patient's resistance to disease through natural methods and simple supportive treatment.
Naturopathic practice assumes that several complimentary treatment methods, acting in concert, will be more effective than a singe method used alone. Treatment protocols are individualized. Naturopathic protocol includes the prescribing of antibiotic when appropriate. Some cases may be referred for surgical placement of tympanostomy tubes.
Conventional treatment (antibiotic and surgical) does not affect the long-term incidence or severity of ear infections, or have any long-term cost benefit over no treatment at all. Long-term antibiotic use is medically controversial; studies indicate that children treated with antibiotics have a higher incidence of repeat ear infections when compared to children treated without antibiotics. The most common antibiotics are often associated with adverse toxic side-effects, including diarrhea, vomiting, diaper rash. Bactrim, an antibiotic commonly used to treat ear infections in children, can produce over 60 kinds of side-effects.
In contrast, natural remedies involving identification and elimination of underlying allergies, food sensitivities or nutrient deficiencies can reduce the incidence of a wide variety of subsequent problems. Correction of underlying immune weakness can lower future incidence of otitis and other upper respiratory infections.
Prognosis
In children younger than three years of age who have persistent otitis media, prompt insertion of tympanostomy tubes does not measurably improve developmental outcomes at the age of three years. [NEngl J Med 2001;344: pp.1179-87]
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Conditions that suggest Middle Ear Infection: | | | | | Aging |  Hearing Loss | Middle ear infections can cause conductive hearing loss. |
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Recommendations and treatments for Middle Ear Infection: | | | | | Botanical |  Arabinogalactans| | Arabinogalactans appear to offer real value in the treatment of recurrent pediatric otitis media. |
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Drug |
 Antibiotics |
Homeopathy |
Ferrum phosphoricum Cell Salt| | This remedy can help if given at the onset of symptoms. The person appears pink and flushed, with fever and a feeling of weariness. |
Aconitum napellus| | This remedy is indicated if an earache comes on suddenly with cutting, throbbing pain. It may have begun after exposure to cold and wind, or after a shaking experience. The person may be fearful, agitated, and restless. Fever may be high, thirst strong, worse near midnight, and may wake the person up. |
Belladonna| | Intense bouts of earache that come and go very suddenly, with the presence of heat and inflammation. Pain can be pounding or throbbing, and may be worse from jarring. There is usually a fever, flushed red face, eyes that are sensitive to light, and skin that is hot to touch. The right ear is most often affected. A child may feel drowsy with the fever, or be restless and have nightmares. |
Chamomilla| | Periods of pain that seem intolerable. Children may seem angry, beside themselves, and may scream or hit. They may feel better from being carried constantly and vigorously walked around or rocked. Symptoms are worse from heat and wind, and the cheeks may be hot and red. |
Hepar sulphuris calcareum| | This remedy is indicated when an earache is very painful or infection is advanced. Stabbing, sticking pains “like a splinter being driven in” are a likely indication. The person is very sensitive to everything, especially cold and drafts, and may feel vulnerable and touchy. |
Magnesia phosphorica| | May help when an earache feels better when warmth and pressure are applied. The pain may be present with little evidence of fluid or infection. |
Mercurius solubilis| | For advanced infections with pus formation, shooting pains, and roaring in the ear. The person is often sensitive to both hot and cold temperatures, has swollen lymph nodes, offensive breath, a puffy tongue, and experience sweating and drooling during sleeping. |
Pulsatilla| | Indicated for ear infections that follow or accompany a cold. The ear may be hot and swollen, with a feeling that something is pressing out. Pain can be worse in the evening and at night, as well as worse from heat, with a pulsing sensation. Deep itching may be felt inside, especially if infections are chronic. A child needing Pulsatilla usually is sad and tearful, wanting to be held and comforted. |
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Mineral |
Colloidal Silver |
Surgery/Invasive |
Surgery| | The insertion of tympanostomy tubes (plastic grommets punched through the ear drum) should be considered if more benign treatments fail. |
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KEY | | Strong or generally accepted link | | | May do some good | | | Likely to help |
GLOSSARY
Allergy (Allergies)
Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.
Benign
Literally: innocent; not malignant. Often used to refer to cells that are not cancerous; they tend to grow slowly and don't spread (metastasize) like cancer tumors do.
Chronic (Chronicity)
Usually referring to chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Diarrhea
Excessive discharge of contents of bowel.
Lymph Nodes (Axillary Nodes, Inguinal Nodes, Lymph Gland, Lymph Glands, Lymph Node, Lymphatic)
Small, bean-shaped nodes at various points throughout the body that function to filter the lymph fluid and attempt to destroy the microorganisms and abnormal cells which collect there. The most common locations are the neck (both sides and front), armpit (axillary) and groin (inguinal), but also under the jaw and behind the ears. Swollen or painful lymph nodes generally result from localized or systemic infection, abscess formation, or malignancy. Other causes of enlarged lymph nodes are extremely rare. Physical examination for lymph nodes includes pressing on them to check for size, texture, warmth, tenderness and mobility. Most lymph nodes can not be felt until they become swollen, and then will only be tender when pressed or massaged. A lymph node that is painful even without touching indicates greater swelling. Lymph nodes can usually be distinguished from other growths because they generally feel small, smooth, round or oval-shaped and somewhat mobile when attempts are made to push them sideways. Because less fat covers the lymph nodes in children, they are easier to feel, even when they are not busy filtering germs or making antibodies. Childrens' nodes enlarge faster, get bigger in response to an infection and stay swollen longer than an adult's. Also known (incorrectly) as lymph glands.
Naturopathy (Naturopath, Naturopathic, Naturopaths)
Medical practice using herbs and other various methods to produce a healthy body state by stimulating innate defenses without the use of drugs.
Otitis Media
A very common condition involving inflammation of the middle ear and can be classified as either acute otitis media (AOM), or otitis media with effusion (OME) which is a chronic disease. It most commonly affects infants and young children but can affect all age groups. Symptoms of AOM include earache, decreased hearing, fever, unsteadiness, and occasionally liquid discharge if the eardrum bursts. Symptoms of OME include decreased hearing, tinnitus and unsteadiness, but OME can be entirely without symptoms. Effusions (discharges) continue for several weeks after AOM; only 60% of ears with AOM are clear at 2 weeks and 80% are clear by 8 weeks.
Pus
White cells that the body sends to fight an infection.
Last updated: Jul 06, 2008
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