Healing Childhood Ear Infections

From the Book

"There are better ways of managing children's ear problems. Dr. Schmidt's comprehensively researched and referenced new book provides answers parents and professionals are seeking. My highest recommendation."

William G. Crook
M.D.Fellow
American Academy of Pediatrics

"This book offers hope, solid information, and sound advice for discouraged parents and clinicians. It shines a much-needed, brilliant light on a common, troubling, often chronic childhood illness. It should be sent home from the hospital with every newborn-and be required reading for all clinicians."

Jan T. Adams, M.D.
Clinical Professor
University of Minnesota Medical School

Back to the Top

Details

Ear infections are still the leading reason parents take their child to a doctor. To combat infections, parents and doctors employ arsenals of antihistimines and antibiotics, and too quickly resort to ear tubes and surgery.

Dr. Michael Schmidt describes the current controversy in medical journals questioning existing treatments for chronic earaches.

The causes of otitis media, Dr. Schmidt argues, are a series of events which flourish when poor nutrition occurs: the immune system is lowered, excess mucus is produced, and vitamin and mineral absorption is inadequate.

Careful attention to diet and nutrition to prevent food allergies, and the use of acupressure, homeopathic medicine, and herbal medicine are effective in healing earaches and preventing their recurrence.

Healing Childhood Ear Infections offers the most compelling critique to date of existing treatments and the effectiveness of alternative therapies.

Note: Homeopathy is only one aspect
of the material presented in this book.

Back to the Top

Contents

Foreword by Doris Rapp, MD
Introduction

The Scope of the Problem
What Is an Earache?
Signs and Symptoms
How the Doctor Diagnoses an Ear Infection
Terminology
Who's at Risk
Current Medical Treatment
Complications of Otitis Media
Treatment of Otitis Media in Countries Other Than the United States


Antibiotics: Sensible Use or Abuse?
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Adverse Physical Effects of Antibiotics
Antibiotics and Otitis Media: Helpful for Most Children?
Preventive (Prophylactic) Antibiotics
Foodborne Antibiotics
In Support of Antibiotics

Tubes: Effectiveness, Hazards, and Complications
How It's Done
The Rationale
Effectiveness and Complications

Hearing Loss and Delayed Development: Myth or Reality?
The Controversy Surrounding Ear Infections, Hearing Loss, and Delayed Intellectual Development

Causes of Childhood Ear Infections
Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity
Infection
Mechanical Obstruction
Nutrient Insufficiency

Home Care for Earaches
When to Call the Doctor
Fever: Your Child's Friend, not Foe
Keep Your Child at Home
When Your Child Must Be on Antibiotics
What if Your Doctor Recommends Adenoidectomy or Tubes
Climate Considerations
Emotional Factors
Children with Down Syndrome
Home Care Methods
The Importance of Intestinal Bacteria
Putting It Together

Preventing Ear Infections in Your Child
Breastfeeding
Feeding Position
Preventing Airborne Allergy and Otitis Media
Air Travel
Smoking
The Day Care Dilemma
Dietary Considerations
Minor Injuries
Treating Colds and Nasal Congestion

Alternative Treatment: Some Solutions
Using This Chapter
Alternative Treatment Methods Described
Allergy Management
Homeopathic Medicine
Manipulation
Acupuncture
Botanical Medicine
Clinical Nutrition

Epilogue
Appendix
Resources
Organizations
Nutrition Assessment Using Laboratory
References

Back to the Top