I have seen time and again that ear infections do not always require antibiotics. The integrative approach is extremely effective, especially when breaking the cycle of recurrent ear infections.
Many ear infections heal on their own
Upwards of 65% of ear infections will heal on their own, without the aid of an antibiotic. It is safe to watch and wait in certain scenarios depending on the age of the child, their overall health status, the structure of their ear anatomy, and their past medical history.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls this the “watch-and-wait approach.” Here is a link to the full AAP guidelines.
Ear infection case study from my practice
One of my sweet little patients was in for a visit recently. I have been seeing him for an integrative approach to behavior challenges, anxiety, meltdowns, and eczema. Together with his mom, we explore his story in the video below:
At this particular visit, he also happened to have an ear infection but was not experiencing any ear pain or other symptoms.
Since he was generally healthy and not an infant, I felt it was safe to watch his ear infection to see if it would go away on its own. We continued to do all of the good integrative things we had already implemented, including his food and supplements.
He came back five days later so I could re-check his ear, and his eardrum looked perfect.
It resolved without the use of antibiotics and the rest of his issues are improving significantly with the integrative approach.My course, “7 Steps to Healthy Kids and Happy Moms” will help you understand which foods and supplements are best for your child, too. Details here.
