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It has been estimated that as many as 95% of all
children have at least one ear infection by the time they are 6 years old. There are several different types of ear infections.
"External otitis" or outer ear infection (swimmer’s ear),
is an acute infection that is usually occurs just before an upper
respiratory infection or allergy problem. The ear canal, extending from the eardrum to the
outside, becomes inflamed and swollen. Symptoms can include: fever,
discharge from the ear, and often includes severe and throbbing pain,
that gets worse when the earlobe is touched or pulled on. Impacted ear wax
that traps water in the ear canal is often responsible of a primary
cause of the problem.
Middle ear infections "otitis media" are
very common in infants and children. The site of this infection
is behind the eardrum, where the small bones of the ear are
located. Symptoms include: earache, sharp/dull throbbing pain, a
feeling that the ear is full, and pressure inside the ear. Fevers as
high as 103°F or high altitudes can increase the discomfort and the
infection.
A severe middle ear infection can cause perforation of
the eardrum. If this happens, it can actually cause a sudden reduction
in pain. Because the pain of an ear infection results when pressure
builds up in restricted spaces, the pressure upon sensitive nerve
endings in the ear causes pain. A perforated eardrum results in hearing loss and a discharge of bloody fluid from the ear.
Frequent middle ear infections, or recurrent otitis
media, affects 30% or more of children under the age of six. This is the most frequent diagnosis in clinical medical
practice. A variety of different bacteria and viruses can cause
middle ear infections. One of the leading causes of ear infection
in children is a bacterium called Branhamella catarrahalis
"B-cat". Another cause of frequent ear infections in
children is food allergies. Babies may be allergic to milk and so
changing that may help. It is known that babies that are breastfeed have less ear infections due to
allergies.
|
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| Multi-vitamin
and mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E, vitamin
C , vitamin B complex , manganese,
and zinc which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of ear infection and disorders. The nutrients found in
a
daily supplement are needed for good general health and well
being. |
| Manganese |
10 |
a deficiency in this
mineral has been linked to ear disorders |
| Bioflavonoids |
10 |
bioflavonoids are
natural antioxidant and free radical destroyer, boosts the immune systems and helps fight infection |
| vitamin
C |
10 |
an antioxidant that works with
bioflavonoids |
| vitamin
E |
9 |
helps the body's healing
process and also serves as a powerful antioxidant to help
rid the body of free radicals. |
| vitamin B
complex |
9 |
they promote healing, strong immune system,
and healthy nervous system. |
| Zinc |
9 |
quickens the immune
system response and helps reduce infection |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
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nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
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do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
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brown rice is good to eat
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avoid red meat and animal fats
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reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
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get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
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avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
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do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
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do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
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