A case study published in the February 19, 2008 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), documents a case of an infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia being helped with chiropractic.  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, (BPD), is a serious lung condition that affects infants who are born premature and have resulting breathing and lung problems. 

The usual course of medical care for infants with BPD is continual administration of oxygen for the first 28 days in an intensive care unit.  The National Institutes of Health estimate that the average length of intensive in-hospital care for babies with BPD is 120 days.  In most cases after the child leaves the hospital, the infant will be on antibiotics and will need ongoing breathing treatments and intermittent oxygen.

In this case a female infant was born premature at 24 weeks gestation, weighed only 593 grams and was diagnosed with BPD.  As a result of the premature birth she had surgery for retinopathy, several rounds of antibiotics and a feeding tube for three months.  After 17 weeks in the hospital she was discharged.  Her medical care continues and consisted of nightly requirements of 1/8-liter of oxygen, a ventilation machine and continuation of antibiotics.

Three months after her release from the hospital she was brought to a chiropractor for an analysis.  At that time she weighed twelve pounds and it was observed that she was listless, constipated and colicky with pasty skin and sinus congestion.  Additionally it was noted that her breathing was short and rapid, her limbs were rather flaccid and she did not make eye contact.  She had also recently completed her last round of antibiotics. 

Chiropractic care given was specific adjustments initially twice daily – morning and afternoon for two weeks, then three times per week for two weeks;  reducing to twice a week for one week, then once a week and eventually once every two weeks.  The case report noted that after the initial adjustment, her mother reported when her baby was placed on her back, she used her abdomen more to hold her legs up; she was not colicky and was able to pass gas easily for the first time.  After the second visit, her sinuses drained and congestion resolved.  After the third adjustment, the baby made a loud noise and was drawing in more air.

As care continued other improvements noted included, the ability to hold her head up with more control and improved facial color and symmetry.  Additionally, her bowel movements improved and she became verbally louder and more alert.  After her 14^th chiropractic adjustment, the baby girl was breathing fully on her own with no signs of cyanosis.  There was no medical intervention during her chiropractic care.  

After 24 visits this baby’s life had been changed as she was then able to roll over on her own, was asymptomatic and has not needed to be readmitted to the hospital nor administered antibiotics.

  Ear infections are the most common illness affecting babies and young children. Published statistical studies show that up to a third of American children will have six or more episodes of ear infections before entering school, with some children experiencing six to twelve ear infection episodes in one year.[1]  Approximately half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before their first birthday, and two-thirds of them will have at least one ear infection by age 3.[2] 

With 10 million cases each year, ear infections, which can be excruciatingly painful, are the number one reason for visits to pediatricians, accounting for 35% of all pediatric visits.

The standard medical treatment is with antibiotics, usually amoxicillin.  While antibiotics may be effective in acute bacterial infection, they do nothing to stop repeat ear infections.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, amoxicillin is not an effective treatment for ear infections.  In fact, when treated with antibiotics, recurrence of ear infections was two to six times greater in the amoxicillin treated children than those treated with a placebo.[1] 

Repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria.  In 1995, Dr. Richard Bresser of the CDC said that the number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed annually for viral infections was 20 million.  Dr. Bresser, in 2003, now refers to tens of millions of unnecessary antibiotics.[3]

 Frequent ear infections are also the second most common reason for surgery in children under the age of 2.  Myringotomy and tympanostomy or “ear tubes” may be prescribed.  During the surgical procedure a small opening is made in the eardrum to place a tube inside.  In many cases the membrane pushes the tube out after a couple of months and the hole in the eardrum closes.  Although the treatment is effective, it needs to be repeated in 20-30% of the cases and this treatment requires general anesthesia, never a minor thing in a small child.[2] 

Before another round of “maybe it’ll work or maybe it won’t” antibiotics or the more drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections.  At Paint Creek Chiropractic Center, in downtown Rochester Michigan, we often see kids with ear infections, and most cases respond very favorably to chiropractic care.  In Part 2 of this article I will discuss why chiropractic works so well.

-end- part I –Ear Infections

 References

1. Peet, Jennifer Brandon D.C.: Chiropractic Pediatric & Prenatal Reference Manual.  2^nd edition  1992 by Baby Adjusters, Inc. Publications
2. Chiropractic Approach to Ear Infections.  American Chiropractic Association website; www.americanchiro.org
3. Kent, Christopher, D.C, J.D.:“Recreational Drugs Far Less Likely to Kill You Than Prescribed Drugs.”  www.mercola.com  Jan 15, 2008.

The October 1998 issue of the Ladies Home Journal has an article entitled,” Chiropractic Adjustments for Chronic Ear Infections”  The article reviews several studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for preventing recurring ear infections known as Otitis Media or OM.

According to the article, recurring ear infections account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States.  Sometimes the ear infections are due to a virus and sometimes from bacteria.  The most common treatment from medical doctors is with antibiotics even though antibiotics are ineffective on viruses.  While the antibiotic may be effective with acute bacterial infections, they do nothing to prevent future ear infections.  Research has shown that repeated use of antibiotics is contributing to future infections by creating drug resistant-infections.  The surgical result has met with little long term results as the “tubes” placed in the ears often come out and usually require a child to be put under general anesthesia to do the surgery.

The article states, “Chiropractic care is thought to prevent recurrent infections by correcting misalignments (called subluxations) and allowing normal fluid drainage from the middle ear.”  The article also noted that 6 months after the chiropractic care was given to the children in the study, 80% had not suffered a recurrence of ear infections.

The article also recommended that: “If your child is between ear infections and his doctor suggests ear-tube surgery, ask if you can try chiropractic treatment first.”  My suggestion is don’t bother asking their permission, it is your child’s health at stake.  You don’t need the pediatrician’s o.k. to see a chiropractor.  Call Paint Creek Chiropractic Center @ 248-601-4540 and make an appointment TODAY!