Chiropractic Care for kids

By Dr. Amir Mahmud

Does your child suffer from chronic ear infections? If so, did you know that chiropractic care is one of the best ways to help children suffering from ear infections? Let’s take a look at what an “ear infection” is, some common causes of middle ear infection, why it is common in children, and traditional treatment vs. alternative treatments.

Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection) is the inflammation and/or infection of the middle ear, the area just behind the ear drum. It happens when the Eustachian tube(auditory tube), which connect the middle ear to the nose, become blocked with fluid. With the infection, mucus, pus, and bacteria can also pool behind the eardrum, causing pressure and pain. Some factors that make otitis media more prevalent in children than adults include bacterial colonization in the absence of antibody, frequent upper respiratory infections, exposure to parental cigarette smoke and change in Eustachian tube function/anatomy. Let’s take a closer look at each scenario and see how it can contribute to ear infections in children.

• Bacterial Colonization:
o “Colonization with Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza, or Moraxella catarrhalis increases the risk of otitis media, whereas colonization with the normal flora such as the viridians streptococci may prevent otitis episodes by inhibiting the growth of these pathogens” [1]. Taking that into consideration, it is a good idea to stay away from antibiotics for as long as possible in treating children with ear infections.

 From et al reported on the results of a study involving 3,660 children in nine countries. The authors concluded, “Antibiotic treatment did not improve the rate of recovery of patients in this study.” In fact, they stated, “Patients who did not take antibiotics had a higher rate of recovery than those who did…” [2]

• Viral Upper Respiratory Infection (URI):
o Viral infections can impair auditory canal function by increasing swelling and edema in the tube which can lead to increased pressure and pain.

• Smoke exposure:
o Exposing children to second hand smoke increases the susceptibility and duration of ear infections by enhancing colonization, prolonging the inflammatory response and impeding drainage through the auditory canal. [2]

• Change in Eustachian Tube anatomy:
o Children below the age of seven years are much more prone to ear infections since the Eustachian tube is shorter and at more of a horizontal angle than in the adult ear. As we age the auditory canal becomes more vertical and as a result it is less susceptible to fluid accumulation and bacterial colonization.

So you might ask. How can chiropractic care help my sick kid?

• The chiropractic model and philosophy is based on realigning the spine, opening up nerve pathways, restoring muscular tone and increasing nervous system communication to increase overall health. In children with chronic ear infections the lymphatic drainage is significantly reduced in the middle ear. This is due to the fact that the drainage of middle ear runs by way of the cervical lymph system and depends significantly for its flow on adequate muscle activity. When there is a misalignment in one of the vertebrae in the neck, the irritation caused by that problem can be sufficient to cause the neck muscles to develop a state of increased tension or spasm. The resulting muscle contraction, especially in the area of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), can be the cause of restricted lymph drainage from the ear. With the disruption in the normal lymphatic activity your body’s immunity is lowered and therefore you are more prone to viral and bacterial invaders. By having the cervical spine adjusted we can open up the lymphatic block and increase the body’s immunity. In addition to adjustments, we also utilize the Erchonia Low level laser to decrease inflammation, reset muscle tone, and boost the body’s immunity.

I hope this article has been informative. If you have any question feel free to send us an email or stop by the office and have your young ones adjusted. Till next time…

Dr. Amir

1. Hay W, Levin M, Sondheimer J, Deterding R. “Current diagnosis and treatment in pediatrics” 8th edition: 459-475
2. Froom J, Culpepper L, Grob P, et al: “Diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media: a report from the International Primary Care Network.” BMJ (1990) 300(6724):582.

By: Dr. Amir Mahmud

With the flu season upon us and both kids and adults getting sick I decided to write an article about how kids can benefit from regular chiropractic care in boosting their immune system and keeping their bodies healthy as they grow. So can chiropractic care really help kids? Let’s take a look at different stages of a kid’s life, how they might get injured, and as a result benefit from an adjustment.
One of the first places the human body encounters stress is at birth. The birthing process can be and is often very traumatic to an infant. One easy method to tell if a baby’s neck is misaligned is to watch where he or she looks in a car seat. If the baby constantly looks in the same direction, the vertebrae in their neck are most likely fixed.

As babies grow and learn to crawl and walk, they tend to fall. As a result they start to affect proper joint and muscle motion. As they continue to grow their spines are modified by their newly acquired body positions and by gravity. It is important to have a child’s spine checked at the major milestones of development, especially at the crawling and walking stages to ensure they have proper biomechanics.

As kids start playing sports, especially contact sports they start noticing aches and pain in their backs. Heading the ball when playing soccer, sliding into bases during little league, being hit by the ball or by other players in baseball or basketball can all cause misalignments in a child’s spine.

In addition to restoring proper biomechanics, adjustments can also help kids with boosting their immune system by enhancing the communication of the nervous system. Furthermore, Infantile Colic and Otitis Media are two common childhood conditions in which research has shown chiropractic can provide beneficial effects.

Infantile Colic:

This condition is described as unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies up to 3 months of age for more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days a week, and for more than 3 weeks. Additional symptoms include the baby’s knees pulled up to the chest, clenched fist, and extension of the trunk or extremities. A Denmark study (Klougart N, Nilsson N, Jacobsen J. Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 316 cases. J Manip Physiol Ther 1989; 12(4): 281-8) showed that 94% of the infants who received chiropractic care noted a significant decrease of crying time within two weeks of treatment.

Otitis Media:

This condition is described as a clinical term for middle ear infection. The child can present with tugging on the ear, poor sleep, fever, irritability, ear and nasal discharge, decreased appetite and crying. By the age of 3, over two thirds of children have had a middle ear infection. A study conducted on 332 children (ages 27 days to 5 years old) with recurrent bouts of Otitis Media, who showed no response to antibiotics, showed that after getting adjusted the children healed quickly and had fewer repeat infections.Falon JM. The role of the chiropractic adjustment in the care and treatment of 332 children with Otitis Media. Journal of clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics. 1997;2(2):167-183

So bring in your kids to your Chiropractor and lets all stay healthy in the upcoming holiday season!!!

Dr. Amir Mahmud is one of the Sports Chiropractors at Chiropractic Sports Institute in Westlake Village. You can contact him at www.gotcsi.com

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