Otitis Media (Ear Infection)

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods) (especially dairy products) - the most common allergens are: dairy products, eggs, wheat, potatoes, peanut butter, corn, and oranges
Avoid sugars, including sweetened juices (or at least dilute the juices several times the normal)
Eat very little food, mostly vegetable broth

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

Vitamin A: 10,000 - 40,000 I.U.
Vitamin C: 1 - 2 gm. TID
Beta Carotene: 10,000-100,000 I.U.
Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
Selenium: 200 - 300 mcg.
Zinc: 30 mg.
Copper: 2 - 4 mg.

Supplements: (references)

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 250-1000 mg.
N-Acetyl Cysteine: 500-1000 mg. BID
Quercetin: 50 mg. QID between meals
Omega 6 Fatty Acids: 250-500 mg.
Thymus Glandular: 500 mg.

Botanicals: (references)

Tincture - Echinacea (1), Allium sativum (1), Hydrastis (1), Matricaria (1), Galium (1), Glycyrrhiza (1), Euphrasia (1), Sambucus (1): take 1/4 tsp. TID to QID
Ear drops - Hypericum oil, Calendula oil, Verbascum oil, Allium s. oil, Larrea oil, Verbascum glycerite , Vitamin E oil: 1-2 warm drops

Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

Otitis interna:
Bell., Calc., Calc-S., Cham., Grapph., Hep., Merc., Sulph.
Otitis media:
Bell., Calc., Calc-S., Cham., Hep., Kali-Bi., Lyc., Merc., Merc-D., Puls., Sil., Sulph.
Chronic otitis media:
Carc., Merc., Merc-D., Psor., Puls., Sil.
Chronic otitis media with discharge:
Caust., Sil., Tub.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

*Cold wet socks (put on cold, wet, cotton socks and put on dry wool socks over them)
*Hot (5 min.) then cold (1 min.) compresses over ear (repeat 2 or 3 times)
*Constitutional hydrotherapy
*Hot foot baths relieve pain of earache very quickly
*Light massage around neck while pulling on the ear lobe repeatedly (creates suction with the tragus)
*Honey or glycerin in external ear canal (osmotic gradient)
*Poultice: place against the outside of the ear for 30 minutes (or taped in place all night if possible)
Children who are breast fed are less likely to contract otitis media
Consider avoiding the use of antibiotics
Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke
Avoid use of pacifiers in infants
Consider a xylitol nasal spray
Avoid baby swimming

Recommended Labs:

Check for otitis media: Full Sepsis Workup (Infants Younger than 12 Weeks), Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflectometry
Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
Rule out Apert Syndrome: X-Ray, CT Scan, MRI, Hearing Assessment
Rule out bacteremia: CBC with Diff with Absolute Neurophil and Band Count, CSR, CRP, Urinalysis, Blood Culture
Rule out cholesteatoma: Complete Ototscopic Exam, Peoperative CT Scan
Rule out colic: History
Rule out gastroenteritis: Fecal Leukocytes, Gram Stain of Stool
Rule out gastroestrophageal reflux: Upper GI Series, Gastric Scintiscan, Manometry, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Rule out haemophilus influenzae infection: Culture of CSF/Synovial/Pleural/Paracardial Fluids
Rule out head trauma: History
Rule out hearing impairment: Hearing Assessment, Complete Otoscopic Exam
Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
Rule out mastoiditis: Culture of Ear/Blood/Mastoid/Abscess, CBC, ESR, CT Scan
Rule out meningitis, bacterial: Lumbar Puncture and Culture of CSF
Rule out nasal polyps: Nasal Exam, MRI, CT Scan
Rule out nasopharyngeal cancer: CBC with Diff, Blood Chemistry, EBV Capsid IgG and IgM, CT Scan, Biopsy
Rule out otitis externa: Culture
Rule out otosclerosis: Halo Sign on Fine-Cut Ct Scan, Audiogram
Rule out parainfluenza virus infections: Sputum Culture, CBC with Diff
Rule out passive smoking and lung disease: History
Rule out pharyngitis: Throat Culture
Rule out pneumococcal infections: CBC with Diff, Gram Stain, Sputum and Throat Culture
Rule out primary ciliary dyskinesia: Direct Video Cinematography, Oscillography
Rule out respiratory syncytial virus infection: Sputum Culture, CBC with Diff, Chest X-Ray, Oxygen Saturation
Rule out rhinovirus infection: CBC with Diff, Nasopharyngeal Culture
Rule out sinusitis: Nasopharyngeal Culture, Paranasal Sinus X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI, Illumination, Percussion

* The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.