What is The Best Treatment For Otitis Media?

Otitis Media

Treatment of otitis media in adults is different from that of in children. Acute otitis media treatment guidelines commonly show less information about chronic otitis media treatment in the infants and babies. It is seen that ear drops for otitis media provide temporary relief while home treatment affects are permanent however it takes some time. One day I was reading AAP otitis media guidelines 2016. I found that serous otitis media in adults and acute one have so much similarities and the difference is not such wide as commonly known.

What Is Otitis Media In Children?

These are the Ear infections, also known as otitis media, are a general trouble in kids. About 50% of newborns have at least 1 ear infection by their initial birthday. Ear infections can source soreness in the ear, fever, and short-term hearing failure and common symbols for example failure of hunger and tetchiness.

Let’s see some working remedies for children here in this case.

ALLERGIES: Studies show that 85-93% of children with recurrent Otitis Media have allergies. 16% have allergies to inhalants alone. 14% have allergies to food alone. And 70% have allergies to both. Allergy testing should be considered.

Skin testing is designed more for inhalant allergens, whereas blood testing is more comprehensive for food allergens, and picks up inhalants as well.

DIETARY ADVICE: If allergy testing is done, allergens that are identified can be targeted for elimination. If not, an ELIMINATION DIET should be implemented. The percentages below show the food allergens most common in children with recurrent Otitis.

• Cow's Milk: 38%
• Wheat: 33%
• Egg White: 25%
• Peanuts: 20%
• Soy: 17%
• Corn: 15%
• Tomato: 5%
• Chicken: 5%
• Apples: 4%

An Elimination Diet systematically removes foods in a sequential fashion to identify allergens.

NUTRITIONAL ADVICE: Where food allergies allow, our advice is to follow the Food Guide Pyramid. See our handout on this subject.

HUMIDIFIERS: The use of humidifiers is recommended during episodes of Acute Otitis. Humidifiers prevent drying of the throat, nasal passage, and Eustachian tubes, and promote drainage of fluid, which can be a reservoir for infection.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS:

High-Potency children's multi-vitamin: This is recommended on a daily basis.

Vitamin A- This is recommended for episodes of Acute Otitis. The dose is 50,000 IU per day for 2 days.

Vitamin C: This is recommended for episodes of Acute Otitis. The dose is the child's age in years times 50 mg, every 2 hours. For Lucy, the dose would be 200 mg every 2 hours, during an acute episode.

Beta-Carotene or Mixed Flavonoids: For acute infections. The dose is the child's age times 50 mg every 2 hours or 200 mg every 2 hours for the acute episode.

Zinc: For acute episodes. Dose is age times 2.5 mg up to 30 mg, daily during an acute episode.

Thymus Extract: To enhance immunity. The dose is 120 mg per day of the pure polypeptide, or 500 mg per day of the crude polypeptide, during an acute episode.

BOTANICAL THERAPY: Echinacea is helpful in enhancing immune function during an acute episode of Otitis Media. However, recent research from Bastyr University, which is the premier University in the US training Naturopathic Physicians, shows it is not effective as a preventative. This research is not yet published, and is contrary to other evidence on Echinacea, so the jury may still be out on this one. The dose varies according to which preparation is used.

LOCAL HEAT: During an acute episode local heat stimulates blood flow to the ear and allows delivery of infection fighting white bloods cells and antibodies. A warm pack or heating pad on low will suffice, for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day.