Many children today are living with chronic health problems that started as a result of antibiotic use for an ear infection. This one decision can lead to a childhood (or even a lifetime) of health issues. Unfortunately, most parents don’t know this and are under the impression that they are doing something good for their child when their ear infections are treated with antibiotics.
Let’s look at what the research says and help prevent unnecessary health complications stemming from a childhood ear infection.
Antibiotics Not Recommended By the American Medical Association
The AMA Journal of Ethics has officially stated that due to overuse of antibiotics and the lack of studies showing improved outcome with antibiotic use for ear infections, it is best to take a wait-and-see approach rather than prescribe antibiotics right away.
Otitis media or inflammation of the middle ear is the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics to children. Yet, many cases of otitis media are caused by viruses and not bacteria, which raises concerns about whether current prescribing practices may be facilitating antibiotic resistance.
One strategy to minimize overprescribing antibiotics in otitis media is to delay antibiotic treatment for 48 to 72 hours. This treatment approach is used in the Netherlands and Scandanavian countries, and has led to much less antibiotic use than in the US and Canada [4,5].
the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently announced guidelines that recommend delaying antibiotic treatment for otitis media to help reduce antibiotic resistance.1
Furthermore, a 2019 review determined:
Expert opinion: Several new measures have been suggested to reduce systemic antibiotic abuse in AOM therapy and prophylaxis.2
As we see, part of the reason for the reduction in antibiotic recommendation is because of antibiotic resistance, which is becoming a growing problem and a threat to our survival. From the CDC:
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Each year in the U.S., at least 2 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 23,000 people die.3
Every time a person takes antibiotics, it stimulates bacteria to evolve into tougher strains.
Additionally, 1 out of every 5 emergency department visits are for adverse effects of prescription antibiotics and the NUMBER 1 cause of emergency room visits for children. 4
According to Beyond Antibiotics by Schmidt, Smith, and Schnert, ear infections in children account for roughly half of all antibiotics prescribed to children.
And as we’ve seen above and cited in Beyond Antibiotics, most cases of ear infection are caused by a virus, not bacteria. Antibiotics do not address viruses; they only address bacteria.
Reoccurrence With Antibiotic Treatment
Research has long shown that ear infections are more likely to recur with antibiotic treatment. The Journal of the American Medical Association published in 1991 that children who received amoxicillin for earaches suffered two to six times the amount of recurrent ear problems.
Similar results were found for those treated with other antibiotics. 5
Additional Health Consequences of Antibiotic Treatment
What often happens after recurring ear infections and antibiotic treatment is the recommendation of surgically-placed tubes.
The efficacy of this is also controversial. In one study, children with two infected ears were treated by placing a tube in one ear and leaving the other one alone. These two ears were compared over a five-year period. For the first couple of months, the ear with the tube did fare better. However, beyond six months, there was no difference in the two ears with regard to recurrent infection and in regard to fluid. The ear with the tube, however, had more eardrum scarring and hearing loss.5
Even one course of antibiotics, as we’ve seen from the statistics above, can leave the child prone to dangerous “side effects.”
The gastrointestinal damage caused by antibiotics often leads to food/environmental allergies, weakened immune system, chronic respiratory problems, and more.
How To Treat Ear Infections Naturally
According to ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Fred Pullen of Florida:
Seventy-five percent of children with recurrent ear problems respond by the simple procedure of taking away milk products.5
The best way to treat ear infections is to eliminate the cause!
Other potential causes include:
Exposure to secondhand smoke (either directly or from clothing)
Vaccination (Otitis media is listed on many vaccine packet inserts from manufacturers as a possible side effect.)
Nutritional deficiencies
Birth by cesarean section
Chlorinated swimming pools
To heal an earache or ear infection naturally:
Have the child take a good quality, dairy-free probiotic. (Click here for my Recommended Supplements.)
Give 500 mg of Vitamin C multiple times per day.
Use a drop or two of breastmilk in the affected ear a few times a day if available.
A drop of colloidal silver in the affected ear(s) a few times daily may be used as well. (Click here to read how colloidal silver may negatively impact beneficial microflora. For that reason, I personally only use it for eyes and ears if needed.)
Chiropractic care. Research shows spinal manipulation through chiropractic care greatly improves outcomes, even for those with recurring ear infections.5
(You can also email me privately for my secret roll-on recipe for earaches.)
I hope this information is a blessing to you. Please feel free to share.
Blessings of good health,
Sara Jo Poff
Natural Health Practitioner
REF:
https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/antibiotic-treatment-otitis-media/2003-08
Beyond Antibiotics by Dr. Michael A. Schmidt, Lendon H. Smith, and Keith W. Schnert