Ear infections are a modern parent's worst nightmare. Nonetheless, they are poorly understood and frequently over-treated. Ear infections cost the United States $4 billion per year. This, in my opinion, does not have to be the case. Recurrent ear infections disappeared after I began practicing integrative medicine and incorporating nutritional recommendations into my daily pediatric practice.
This is by no means an exhaustive examination of the recurring cycle of ear infections that many children face. It simply explains how, in my practice, I've come to understand and treat ear infections naturally. Let us begin with the causes.
Ear infections are caused by four basic factors:
1. Viral infections
Bacteria, no. 2
3. Food allergies/sensitivities and environmental allergies/sensitivities
4. Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube
1. Viruses are not living organisms; rather, they are DNA or RNA contained within a protein coating. They spread quickly by invading our own cells and forcing them to replicate the virus, thereby destroying our cells. The Rhinovirus, for example, is responsible for the "common cold." Viruses are not killed by antibiotics. It is up to our bodies' immune systems to combat viral infections.
2. Bacteria are single-celled living microorganisms. Within their cell wall, they have DNA and RNA. A simple bacterial infection is frequently localized to a specific area, such as the middle ear or sinus cavities. Some bacteria, particularly the so-called "friendly flora" in the gut, are beneficial. We have more bacteria in our guts than we do cells in our bodies.
3. Environmental allergies and food allergies/sensitivities can both cause significant inflammation. Both can cause inflammation of the tissues lining the sinus cavities and the nose, contributing to runny noses, post-nasal drip, cough, watery itchy eyes, and sometimes itchy skin.
4. Eustachian tube dysfunction is when the beautifully designed tube that runs from the middle ear to the back of the nose (and throat) does not function properly. Fluid can drain into and out of the middle ear through this tube. When it swells, it essentially acts as a dam, allowing a small pool of fluid to be trapped in the middle ear, creating ideal conditions for bacteria to grow. This could be a structural or an inflammatory issue. Both of these things prevent the tube from functioning properly.
How Infection Spreads
The body's tissues (such as the nasal mucosa and sinus cavities) can also resorb (or absorb) fluid that has accumulated in the middle ear. However, when the tissues become swollen, as they do with allergies or a bad cold, the tissue's ability to resorb fluid is greatly reduced. If the nose is swollen and mucous-filled, there is nowhere for the fluid to go. When this fluid sits dormant in the middle ear, it serves as a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.
When you think about it, a clogged middle ear is similar to a warm bathtub that has been left unattended for several days. It quickly degrades into a cesspool teeming with bacteria.
Is it really daycare that causes so many children to have chronic runny noses?
So the question is, why do so many children have so much mucus, inflammation, and runny noses? Many pediatricians will blame daycare centers if you ask ten different ones. And, yes, I agree that this is a major factor. However, I believe that poor nutrition (particularly a high intake of dairy and refined sugars) plays a larger role and is more easily remedied (at least theoretically).
In my experience, if a child consumes optimal nutrition and follows some very basic guidelines for boosting their immune system, they can still attend daycare and avoid the many offending viruses and bacteria that daycares frequently harbor.
How an ear infection develops: What this looks like in real life with your child is as follows:
1. Children are exposed to a virus that causes the common cold or allergy season. Excess mucus is produced by the body and secreted into the nasal passages and sinus tissues.
2. The child may experience a brief period in which fluid pools in the middle ear.
3. Even if a small amount of bacteria has begun to grow, a child with a healthy immune system will be able to clear the fluid, including the viral infection, within several days.
4. A child with an inflamed and stressed system will have a persistent runny nose, congestion, and cough. This is when fluid accumulates in the middle ear, creating ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply.
Without the use of an antibiotic, up to 65 percent of ear infections will heal on their own. Ear infections can be treated naturally. It is safe to watch and wait in certain scenarios, depending on the child's age, overall health status, ear anatomy structure, and past medical history.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) refers to this as the "watch and wait" strategy. The full AAP guidelines can be found here – http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/3/e964.
Many children will grow out of ear infections.
When babies are born, their Eustachian tubes are nearly horizontal between the ear and the nose. This begins to take on a more vertical angle as the baby grows. The Eustachian tube should be at a more adult-like vertical angle by the time the baby is two years old. This is why adults have fewer ear infections than children; anatomy is on our side, and ear infections can be treated naturally.
A word about dairy's pro-inflammatory properties
Dairy is a pro-inflammatory food that frequently inflames the gut and prevents the body from properly absorbing nutrients.
Children who suffer from constipation, recurrent stomach aches, eczema, chronic runny nose, recurrent ear infections, and other ailments frequently consume a lot of dairy.
Because processed foods are inherently inflammatory, they make it more difficult for the body to heal. Your goal is to transition your child to a wholesome, whole-foods diet. We absorb nutrients much better when they are in their natural form, such as real fruits and vegetables, rather than synthetically created forms.
Your child's immune system will be strong, and many common illnesses, such as ear infections, may be avoided.
I'm delighted to share with you today Dr. Sheila Kilbane's guest post on how to treat ear infections naturally. She works with families to determine the underlying cause of illness.
She is passionate about nutrition and treats colic, reflux, eczema, recurrent ear infections, recurrent sinus infections, asthma, allergies, stomach and GI issues like constipation and abdominal pain with natural and nutritional therapies whenever possible.
Comments