Middle Ear Infections - Are they a case of antibiotic shortage?

This seems like such a silly concept, but how often is it the case, that our only course of action is to fill the prescription given by the GP for a middle ear infection, and not do anything to prevent the problem from recurring?

Acute otitis media (middle ear infection) is due to a bacterial or viral infection which started somewhere in the upper respiratory tract (mouth, nose or throat). It then passes up the eustachian tube (which is shorter and straighter in children - and results in more infection than in adults) and lodges in the middle ear causing severe earache, hearing loss, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

As an infection it should respond well to antibiotics except that many microorganisms are resistant to our antibiotics and they often recur in certain children who are susceptible to upper respiratory infections. The causative organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Hemophilus influenzae which are all opportunistic infections - only causing infection when the host's immune system is lowered. Two important ways that this can happen are:

1. leaving an upper neck subluxation uncorrected
   - the upper cervical spine is the outlet for nerve transmission to the head, ear, nose and throat. If these nerves are malfunctioning then so too will the organs that they supply with neurological information. As a result small neck problems in children can lower the immune response.
2. suffering with unmanaged allergies
   - the most frequently occurring allergenic foods are milk and dairy products, eggs, wheat, corn, oranges and peanut butter. Simple sugars need to be taken out of the diet because they suppress the immune system. This includes sugar, cordial, soft drinks, and concentrated fruit juices.

• have your spine assessed for dysfunction by a chiropractor,
• the diet should be supplemented with a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement, beta -carotene or cod liver oil, garlic, vitamin C, bioflavinoids and zinc. This helps build up the immune system.
• avoid introducing babies to bottle feeding too early. Four months of more of breastfeeding helps decrease the incidence of recurrent middle ear infection. Human milk contains a high level of antibodies which helps protect against viral and bacterial infections.
• avoid other risk factors such as day care attendance, wood-burning stoves and parental smoking.