Ear infections in children has been a common occurrence for decades, Prompting ear, nose and throat doctors to respond with an automatic prescription for surgery, anesthesia and tubes to drain the inner ear.
But there is a well-known issue that arises when a child five years old or under is subjected to anesthesia many times, or even once.
It has been discovered that exposure to anesthesia in young children can actually create a form of nerve damage. That can directly affect the child’s memory. And repeated exposure to anesthesia during ear infection surgeries can raise the risk of serious nerve and memory damage with every additional surgery.
Since ear infections are common in children under five years old, concerned doctors and parents have created a special task force designed to monitor this serious situation. These champions of our children have even instituted specific guidelines for medical professionals to follow.
These guidelines are based on a newly adopted practice of “watchful waiting.” Where there is ample time given to monitoring the child, to see if ear infection surgery and anesthesia is indeed necessary.
While alternative methods of helping children with ear infections are being considered, including using less harmful anesthetics, such as nitrous oxide, these methods are still in the initial stages of testing at locations like the Mayo Clinic.
But truly alternative methods, often disregarded by the mainstream medical community, offer hope that children afflicted with these painful ear infections can find relief, without surgery, without risky anesthesia and without problematic antibiotics.
For example, the chiropractic community is having significant successes with the occurrences of ear infections in children. Approaching this serious issue from a standpoint of clearing the roadblocks in a child’s body that are stopping the natural self-healing process to take place. Often enabling the child’s own immune system to combat the infection, without surgery.
From case studies so far, it would be in your best interest to consult with a Doctor of Chiropractic, in addition to ear, nose and throat specialists, as part of your research. Before you decide to allow surgery to be performed on your child.
So if your child is telling you they have serious pain in their ear, you must do your due diligence before opting for anesthesia and surgery. As you do your research, interview doctors about their philosophy and practices regarding treating ear infections in children. Understand the long-term risks of anesthesia on children five and under, and you will set yourself up to make an informed decision about how best to help your child get well, and stay well.