The words "middle ear infection" conger up some unpleasant
and painful images for many children and parents. Aside from
colds, ear infections are the most common childhood
illness--requiring over 30 million pediatric visits
annually--and costing parents more than $2 billion annually for
diagnosis and treatment.
What's more disturbing is that many children don't get just
an occasional ear infection-- they suffer from recurring
infections that can require ongoing antibiotic treatment, and all
too often, surgery. A middle ear infection, medically known as
otitis media, occurs when there is excessive mucus production and
swelling in the Eustachian tube, the narrow passageway that
drains the middle ear. This creates a blockage which then serves
as a breeding ground for bacteria.
What causes these ear infections?
The pediatric community generally accepts several causes for recurrent ear infections in children. These include the presence of a family history of ear
infections, a malformation of the Eustachian tube, and frequent upper
respiratory infections.
Although these factors are often the cause of ear infections,
there also may be an underlying reason for a recurring problem.
In fact, an allergic reaction or a hypersensitivity to a
variety of molds, pollens and foods may be the underlying cause of
excessive mucus production and subsequent ear infections. Some foods that commonly cause allergic reactions include: Milk, Eggs, Soy, Wheat and
Corn. Therefore, one of the best ways to discover the
underlying cause of the infections is to evaluate the history of
possible pollen and mold allergies, as well as foods ingested
more than twice a week.
A recent patient is a clear example of how effective the determination of allergies can be in eliminating a child's recurrent ear infections. At seven years of age, Billy had a history of chronic ear infections that began at three months of age. As a result, he had undergone multiple surgeries and suffered from moderate hearing loss in his left ear. During visits to my office, tests
indicated that Billy was allergic to 10 foods, 6 molds and 17
inhalants/pollens. He was placed on a diet to restrict his intake of milk, sugar, baked goods and junk food; and put on sublingual immunotherapy treatment. Six weeks later, a follow-up visit revealed that his ear infections had completely resolved.
The restriction of certain foods that were causing allergic
problems and appropriate immunotherapy, have relieved Billy of his pain and has enabled him to eliminate his frequent use of antibiotics. Billy's story is not an isolated case. A 1994 study was conducted at Georgetown University of children suffering from recurrent ear infections. The results demonstrated the connection between ear infections and allergies. Researchers discovered
that 78 of the 100 children who participated in the study were allergic to
various foods, particularly dairy products, wheat, peanut and corn. When
these foods were withheld from the diets of the allergic children, the ear
infections stopped. The infections then returned when the children resumed
eating the problem foods. Researchers for this study consequently
attributed food allergies to the excess mucus production and swelling of the
Eustachian tube, which resulted in recurrent ear infections.
What can parents do at home to determine if allergies may be causing their children's ear infections? A simple process called the "elimination diet" is one approach in determining if allergic reactions to foods are the underlying cause of your child's recurrent ear infections.
The diet involves eliminating the most common food culprits, such as milk, wheat, eggs, corn, chocolate, citrus, sugar, peanuts, preservatives and additives from your child's diet for a period of two weeks.
During this time, a well-balanced diet of fruit, vegetables,
chicken, turkey, fish and rice should be implemented. After about 14 days, food should be added to the diet each day as a challenge to see if it provokes symptoms, such as nasal congestion, that can be linked to the ear infections.
Determining the underlying cause of ear infections can often
help doctors to diagnose and prevent other medical problems as
well. Chronic ear infections have frequently been associated
with hyperactivity, hay fever, and asthma, as well as multiple
subjective complaints of headaches, abdominal pain and
fatigue--in both children and adults.
While it is often necessary to treat ear infections
appropriately with antibiotics, children forced to take
antibiotics for months may experience a variety of side effects,
including diarrhea, upset stomach and allergic reactions.
Therefore, determining and treating the root of the problem can
eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering. So if your child is
suffering from chronic ear infections--then listen up--the foods
he or she is eating may be telling you something.
Dr. Layton/Silesky Marketing