Chiropractic and Otitis Media

Objective:

To conduct an experimental study of chiropractic care in cases of otitis in children using tympanography as an objective measure.

And to propose possible mechanisms by which subluxation may be implicated in the pathophysiology of otitis media.

Design: Case Series

Adjustment:Subjects presented in a private clinical practice in Rochelle, New York. The subjects were referred by various sources including pediatricians, other MDs, chiropractors, and parents.

Participants: 332 children who consecutively presented with previously diagnosed otitis media, aged 27 days to 5 years. Primary outcome measures: A parent/guardian questionnaire was used to determine historical data regarding previous episodes of otitis media. The age of onset of initial otitis media, feeding history, history of antimicrobial therapy, patterns of remission, and birth history.

Otoscopy and tympanographic data were collected as well as data regarding the number of adjustments administered to achieve resolution of otitis media. Data regarding recurrence rates over six months were also collected.

Results:

The mean number of adjustments administered by types of otitis media was as follows: acute otitis media (n=127) 4.0+/- 1.03, chronic/serous otitis media (n=104) 5.0 +/- 1.53, and for the mixed type of bilateral otitis media (n=10) 5.3 +/- 1.35.

And where no otitis was initially detected on otoscopic and tympanographic examination (but with a history of multiple episodes) (n=74) 5.88 +/- 1.87.

The number of days it took to normalize the otoscopic examination was 6.67 +/- 1.9 for chronic/serous, 8.57 +/- 1.96 for acute, and 8.3 +/- 1.00 for mixed.

The number of days it took to normalize the tympanographic examination: 8.35 +/- 2.88 for chronic/serous, 10.18 +/- 3.39 for acute, and 10.9 +/- 2.02 for mixed. The overall recurrence rate over a six-month period from the initial office presentation was 11.02%, 16.34% for chronic/serous, 30% for mixed, and for none present 17.56%.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first time that tympanography has been used as an objective tool regarding the efficacy of chiropractic adjustment in the treatment of children with otitis media.

Since tympanography has been extensively used in the medical assessment of children with otitis media, it also serves as a bridge through which the chiropractic field and the medical field can begin to communicate regarding otitis media.

The results indicate that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustment and resolution of otitis media for children in this study.

This experimental study may now serve as a starting point from which the chiropractic profession can begin to examine its role in the treatment of children with otitis media.

Large-scale clinical trials need to be undertaken in the field using tympanography as an objective measure. Furthermore, the role of occipital adjustment needs to be examined.

This study begins the process of examining the role of craniovertebral complex subluxation in the pathogenesis of otitis media, and the efficacy of chiropractic adjustment in its resolution.

Source: Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1997 (Oct); 2 (2)
Joan M. Fallon, C.C., F.I.C.C.P.

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INFECTIONS

otitis