We at Van Every Family Chiropractic Center of Royal Oak, Michigan, care about your health and well-being and strive to provide you with current information in a variety of health topics!
Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common condition for which antibiotics are prescribed for US children. The researchers reviewed 135 studies in a meta-analysis.
Their findings should shock any pediatrician: “Antibiotics are modestly more effective than no treatment but cause adverse effects in 4% to 10% of children.” (17)
Most children recover in just a few days without antibiotics. While antibiotics may
slightly improve recovery speed in some children they have many side effects including diarrhea, skin rashes and altered bacterial flora in the gut because antibiotics kill the “good” bacteria there. Antibiotics can create antibiotic resistant bacteria as well.
The frequent use of antibiotics for common ear infections raises risks that children will harbor drug resistant bacteria during subsequent illness ... children whose previous ear infections were treated with antibiotics have a rate of amoxicillin-resistant bacteria that is three times higher during subsequent otitis media. (18)
It has been observed that children given antibiotics for ear infections get more ear infections! Who wants their child to have a weakened immune system?
In fact even the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians have recommended a wait-and-see approach (since 2004) for children with ear infections.
We have a better idea – how about chiropractic care during the “wait and see” period? Chiropractic’s natural, drug-free approach has helped many children recover from ear infections quickly and safely. (19)
References:
17. Coker TR, Chan LS, Newberry SJ, Limbos MA, Suttorp MJ, Shekelle PG, Takata GS. Diagnosis, microbial epidemiology, and antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a systematic review. JAMA. 2010;304(19):2161-2169.
18. Culpepper L, Froom J. Routine antimicrobial treatment of acute otitis media: Is it necessary? JAMA. 1997:278(20):1643-1645.
19. Brown CD. Improved hearing and resolution of otitis media with effusion following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic. 2009;1:1-7.
