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 Ear infections or otitis media, is a secondary disease due to complications of other conditions such as the common cold. It is defined as an inflammation of the middle ear that can result in a variety of signs and symptoms including ear pain, fever, drainage from the ear, sleeplessness, irritability, change in eating habits, change in hearing, refusal to nurse on one side, nasal obstruction or discharge, or in some instances, no symptoms may be present.
Ear infections affect two thirds of American children by two years of age making it the most common diagnosis of children and the second most common diagnosis in medicine. Children are more susceptible to ear infections because of the angle of the drainage tube called the Eustachian tube. In a child, this tube is horizontal allowing for germs to more easily invade. In addition, the horizontal tube makes it more difficult for fluid to drain properly from the middle ear also promoting infection. After age seven, the angle of the Eustachian tube changes, making it more difficult for foreign material to enter the ear canal.
By treating the neck in a child, known as the cervical spine, chiropractors can help alleviate and/or prevent ear infections. Chiropractic adjustments promote drainage of fluids within the middle ear, preventing bacteria from having the opportunity to reproduce. Talk to your chiropractor about the benefits of chiropractic care and prevention of ear infections in your child.
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