Earlier this year, the Canadian Pediatric Society updated their guidelines for treating ear infections in response to the global concern regarding antibiotic resistant bacteria (see below for more on antibiotic resistance). Instead of prescribing an antibiotic right off the bat for an ear infection, they are recommending a 24-48 hour watchful waiting approach for otherwise healthy kids over 6 months old, who have a mild-moderate ear infection.
This can be scary for parents – to watch their kids in discomfort without the ability to do anything to help them.
This is where Naturopathic treatment comes in. Naturopathic therapies for ear infections are customized for each individual child, and can include treatments to boost the immune system, fight the bacteria in the ear, and manage a fever.
Here are some steps to follow if you think your child has an ear infection:
- See your ND or MD to have them look in the child’s ear to confirm an ear infection
- If the ear infection is non-severe, your MD should initiate a watchful waiting approach
- Your ND can immediately prescribe therapies to boost the child’s immune system and start to minimize the infection
- If fever and ear pain continue or worsen over the next 2 days, see your ND or MD again for further treatment.
**NOTE: Do not leave a severe ear infection untreated. Naturopathic treatments as well as antibiotics are all considered forms of treatment.
Antibiotic resistance
What is it: bacteria are evolving (mutating) to become resistant to the antibiotics we use to right them.
Why is it happening: the more antibiotics we use, the more we run the risk of developing resistant bacteria.
Why is it important: resistant bacteria don’t respond to typical antibiotic treatments, which means normally treatable infections are now untreatable!
