The author presents a case series of five patients (ages 0 to 5) with chronic otitis media who had previously been under regular medical pediatric care for this condition for at least six months without resolution. These children all underwent a program of chiropractic case management, including specific spinal adjustments, and responded to care from 3 days to 8 weeks.
All patients had excellent outcomes with no residual morbidity or complications. All had five adjustments to the spine. Of the five, 3 had an atlas subluxation, one had an occipital subluxation and one had an atlas and axis subluxations. These children were adjusted full spine as well.
The response of a patient with otitis media to chiropractic care. Thill L, Curtis J, Magallances S, Neuray P. Life Work 1995; 3: 23-28.
A 19 month old female with a chronic history of acute episodes of suppurative otitis media was on antibiotics over a six month period with no improvement. Antibiotics were stopped and the patient then began a four week course of intensive chiropractic care, with complete resolution at two weeks.
Neurological Fitness Vol. V, No. 2 Jan 1996: Reviewer’s Synopsis of this paper: this patient presented with glassy eyes, a runny nose, and apparent discomfort evidenced by continual tugging at both her ears. The mother reported that her child had been like this over the previous six months. In addition to the antibiotic therapy medical treatment also included weekly steroid injections and inhalants to control asthma…no improvement had been noticed by the mother and several emergency room visits had been required due to asthmatic attacks.
The atlas fixation syndrome in the baby and infant. Gutmann G. Manuelle Medizin 1987 25:5-10, Trans. Peters RE.
This is the case of an 18-month-old boy suffering from recurring tonsillitis, frequent enteritis, and therapy resistant conjunctivitis. He also suffered from colds, rhinitis, ear infections and sleep disturbances.
“Immediately after (spinal adjustment), the child demanded to be put to bed and for the first time slept peacefully to the next morning. Previously disturbed appetite normalized completely. Conjunctivitis cleared completely.”
Vertebral subluxations and otitis media: a case study. Phillips, NJ. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. Jul 1992, Vol: 8(2), pp.38-9. Author’s abstract:
A 23-month-old female with chronic otitis media had orthodox medical treatment with no relief of symptoms. Conventional medical treatment included numerous regimens of broad-spectrum antibiotics and bilateral myringotomies with tympanostomy tube placement. The tubes were still in place on presentation. Three days after initial adjustment (at C-1) the patient’s ear drainage and pain were noticeably reduced. Child was soon free of all symptoms.
Sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and alternating diarrhea and constipation Neurological Fitness Vol. V, No. 2 Jan 1996:
This is the case of a patient presented with a history of sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and alternating diarrhea and constipation. She was also suffering from ear pain and ear discharge related to chronic otitis media of 17 months duration. This condition had resisted several regimens of antibiotics as well as surgery to insert tympanostomy tubes.
Three days after the first adjustment, the ear pain and discharge were substantially reduced. Continued correction of C1 eventually resulted in both ears being clear of exudate. At the time of this report, the patient has been symptom-free for approximately four years.
A comparative study of the health status of children raised under the health care models of chiropractic and allopathic medicine. Van Breda, Wendy M. and Juan M. Journal of Chiropractic Research Summer 1989.
In this study 200 pediatricians and 200 chiropractors were interviewed and asked about their children’s health. More than 80% of the medical children suffered from at least one bout of otitis media while only 31% of the chiropractic children were so reported.
This study has a number of flaws, one being that approximately 25% of the chiropractic children had been vaccinated. Since vaccination weakens the child’s immune system and predisposes to ear infections those children should have been separated from the data. Still the study is quite interesting and may serve as an inspiration for later researchers to do further outcome studies.
Diagnosis and treatment of TMJ, head, neck and asthmatic symptoms in children. Gillespie BR, Barnes JF, J of Craniomandibular Practice. Oct. 1990, Vol 8, No. 4.
The authors note that pathologic strain patterns in the soft tissues can be a primary cause of headaches, neck aches, throat infections, ear infections, sinus congestion, and asthma.
Structural normalization in infants and children with particular reference to disturbances of the CNS. Woods RH Journal Of The American Osteopathic Association, May 1973,72: pp.903-908.
Post-traumatic epilepsy, allergic problems, otitis media and dizziness have been relieved by cranial manipulation.
Blocked atlantal nerve syndrome in babies and infants. Gutman G. Manuelle Medizin (1987) 25:5-10.
Three case reports are reviewed to illustrate a syndrome caused and perpetuated in babies and infants by blocked nerve impulses at the atlas. Included in the clinical picture are lowered resistance to infections, especially to ear-nose-, and throat infections.
Chronic otitis media: a case report. Hobbs DA, Rasmussen SA. ACA J of Chiropractic. Feb 1991;28:67-68.
This is a case study of a 38-year-old female who had previously suffered from headaches and colitis that had resolved after earlier chiropractic care.
Her hearing loss and chronic otitis media symptoms subsided and hearing was restored through chiropractic care and cranial adjustments.
From Neurological Fitness Magazine V.1 No.4, July 1992:
“Dr. Peter Fysh hypothesized that cervical adjustments relieve blockage to lymphatic drainage from the ears.” [Proceedings of the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics (ICA), 1991;37-45].
From Neurological Fitness Vol. V, No. 2 Jan 1996:
A 33-year-old male patient presented with a feeling of fullness in his ears, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The patient had a history of eustachian tube blockage since childhood. His problems were not relieved by a course of antihistamines.
Following diversified adjusting (primarily C2, C5), audiometry and tympanometry findings normalized and his subjective complaints were alleviated.
Chronic ear infections, strep throat, 50% right ear hearing loss, adenoiditis and asthma. Case history by G. Thomas Kovacs, D.C. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association newsletter. July 1995.
This is the case of a 4 1⁄2 year old female suffering from chronic ear infections, strep throat, (on and off for 4 years) 50% right ear hearing loss, adenoiditis and asthma.
She had been on antibiotics (CeclorT ), developed pneumonia, was on bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory for asthma and given steroids. ENT diagnosed child with enlarged adenoids and scheduled surgery to remove child’s adenoids and to put tubes in her ears.
Chiropractic history revealed cervical (C2), thoracic (T3) and right sacroiliac subluxation. She was adjusted 2x/week for 6 weeks. After 3 or 4 adjustments, the mother noticed “a changed child, she has life in her body again…acting like a little girl again for the first time in 4 years.” After 6 weeks, pediatrician and ENT noticed no sign of ear infection or inflammation. “Her adenoids, which were the worst the ENT has ever seen, were perfectly normal and healthy. Hearing tests revealed no hearing loss.
The family finally told the child’s M.D.s that “all medication was stopped 6 weeks ago when chiropractic care started.” The family was told to continue chiropractic care because it had “obviously worked.”
Chronic ear infections. The side-effects of the chiropractic adjustment. Arno Burnier, D.C. Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol. 1 No. 4 May 1995.
This is a case history of Tim and Patrick, males, ages 6 and 9 with a medical diagnosis of chronic ear infections and who were on multiple courses of Ceclor T antibiotic and Nebulizer T .
After adjustments (Tim – C2, C3, D12/L1, Patrick – Oc/C1, Sacrum) both children have been free of medication and over-the-counter drugs for the past three years.
Sinus Infections
Case report # 1589. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter May/June 1998. From the office of Paul Zell, D.C., F.I.C.P.A.
A 12 year old boy, since the age of three, had “non-stop sinus infections every 2-3 months.” Antibiotics were used to control the infections and previous surgeries included removal of the tonsils and adenoids at age 3.
Chiropractor found decreased cervical range of motion at C-2, C-7, T-3, T-5, T-8 and right ileum fixations. By the second visit, antibiotics were stopped and patient was asymptomatic of sinus infection. By the third week of care posture corrected and child was able to carry his head in an upright position. “Both patient and parents are aware of the quality of life that is returning as an apparent result of chiropractic care.
Infections of the ear, nose and throat, Blood HA, Osteopathic Annals 6:11/ November 1978.
“My earliest impression of effective osteopathic manipulation was the relief afforded painfully congested sinus by manipulation of the neck and upper back.”