Ear Infections (Otitis media)
 Ear Infections (Otitis media) | |
| Causes | Food Reactions, Smoking, Allergies, Infections |
|---|---|
| See Also | Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat Conditions, Allergic Rhinitis |
| Books | Books on Head, Ears, Nose and Throat Conditions |
| Articles | Articles on Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat Conditions |
Otitis media is a swelling of the middle ear caused primarily by adverse reactions to food or due to an infection. Otitis media is extremely common in children with up to two thirds of individuals under 6 experiencing chronic otitis media. Currently, otitis media is the most common reason for a pediatric visit in the United States.[1]
Naturopathic Assessment
Causal Factors
In order to stimulate the innate ability of the body to heal the causes of disease must be identified and addressed. With otitis media, the most common cause is food reactions, yet there are external and environmental factors that also need to be considered.
Lifestyle
- Up to 84% of children with otitis media have food reactions.[1]
External
- Children exposed to cigarette smoke are at increased risk of developing otitis media.[2]
- Bottle Feeding
- Early bottle feeding is strongly correlated with recurrent ear infections. It is unclear if this is due to cow's milk allergy, the ergonomics of bottle feeding, or the protective effect of human milk or a combination of these factors.[1]
- Daycare
- Pacifier Use
- Using a pacifier increases the risk of developing otitis media.[3]
- Wood Burning Stoves
- Exposure to wood-burning stoves is a risk factor for the development of otitis media.[1]
Environmental
- Infectious agents responsible for otitis media include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.[3]
Discussion
- Anatomical Differences
- The eustachian tube in younger children is shorter, wider and more horizontal which predisposes them to higher rates of otitis media.[4]
Diagnostic Testing
The diagnosis of an ear infection is generally based on a person's symptoms and by examining the ear with an otoscope. For frequent infections or infections that don't resolve further testing may be required:
- Other Tests
- Special diagnostic tests used to evaluate otitis media include pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometry. [3]
Related Symptoms and Conditions
Conditions related to otitis media include:[3]
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Cleft palate
- Down syndrome
Characteristics
| Article | Acute and Chronic Recurrent Oitits Media, NDNR; 2013 February |
|---|
Otitis media can be subdivided into two categories: Acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME).[4]
- Acute Otitis Media (AOM) - occurs with rapid onset, inflammation and bulging of the tympanic membrane.
- Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)- occurs with no signs and symptoms typically seen in AOM, but middle ear effusion is present.
Common Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of otitis media include:[1][3]
Naturopathic Treatment
The goal of naturopathic treatment is to support and work in tandem with the healing power of the body and to address the causal factors of disease with individual treatment strategies.
It is always advisable to work with a naturopathic doctor before engaging in any treatment plan.
Home Care
Home Care strategies include:
Lifestyle
Lifestyle recommendations include:
- Dietary recommendations
- Identify and eliminate food allergies and food sensitivities. The most common allergens are milk, corn, wheat, citrus,eggs, chocolate and peanut butter.[2]
- Strengthen the immune system by avoiding over-consumption of sugar.[2]
- Ensure you drink adequate water.
- Postural differences between bottle and breast-feeding may partially account for the increased risk of otitis in bottle fed infants. [6]
Naturopathic Therapies
The prescribing of naturopathic therapies requires the guidance of a naturopathic doctor as it depends on a number of factors including the causal factors, a person's age, prescription medications, other conditions and symptoms and overall health. It is always advisable to work with a naturopathic doctor prior to taking any natural therapies.
Naturopathic Therapies for otitis media include:
- Clinical Nutritional Supplementation includes
- Vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C
- Minerals such as Zinc
- Other supplements such as Bioflavonoids, Probiotics[2], Cod Liver Oil
- Herbs such as Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia), Wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), Cleavers (Galium aparine) [7] Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Garlic (Allium sativum), Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis, Mullein (Verbascum thapus). [5]
- Gemmotherapies such as Ribes nigrum, Rosa canina
- Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture have been approved by the World health Organization to treat acute and chronic otitis media.[5]
- Osteopathy- osteopathy can be effective in the prevention and treatment of otitis media.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Murray MT, Bongiorno PB (2006) Pizzorno Textbook of Natural Medicine 3rd ed Chap 197 Otitis Media Elsevier.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Murray Michael (1996) Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, The Essential Guide for Improving Your Health Naturally Prima Publishing.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Ramakrishnan K (2007) Diagnosis and Treatment of Otitis Media, Am Fam Physician 76(11);1650-8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Casselbrant ML, Mandel EM (2010) Flint: Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery 5th ed Chap 194 Acute Otitis Media and Otitis Media with Effusion Mosby.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Shapiro M (2007) Rakel: Integrative Medicine 2nd ed, Chap 18 Otitis Media Saunders.
- ↑ Oudesluys-Murphy AM, Semmekrot BA (2004) Otitis media The Lancet;363(9417):1324-1325.
- ↑ Hoffman D (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine Healing Arts Press
- ↑ Hershoff Asa 2000 Homeopathic Remedies, A Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and their Homeopathic Treatments, Avery Publishing Group, New York
- ↑ Ullman Robert, Reichenberg-Ullman Judyth 1997, Homeopathic Self-Care, the quick and easy guide for the whole family. Prima Publishing
