More than five million cases of otitis media are diagnosed every year in the U.S. A commonly treated health problem, this inflammation of the middle ear is often treated with antibiotics. Dr. J. Owen Hendley, from the University of Virginia, reviewed 100 studies and discovered that antibiotics help only one out of eight children with ear infections.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study regarding the use of antibiotics versus the use of a placebo. It revealed that during a one-week period, 94 percent of the recipients using antibiotics for ear infections resolved, while 84 percent of the placebo-controlled recipients resolved during the same time period.
Little, Gould, et al.,1 presented the downside of the use of antibiotics by stating: "The bacteria, which cause ear infections, learn quickly to be resistant to antibiotics. At some point we're going to run out of drugs to treat the problem. Antibiotics resistance is a huge problem in this country. The practice of treating eight children to help one who needs antibiotics just makes it worse."
"Wait and watch" is sage advice.
A previous study by Little, Gould, et al., compared immediate versus delayed usage of antibiotics, showing that for most children, the benefit with immediate antibiotics was only marginal, with no significant difference in pain or distress. It should be noted, however, that the medical conclusion was that immediate antibiotic prescriptions provided symptomatic benefit mainly after 24 hours, when symptoms were already resolving. For children who are not very ill systemically, the "wait-and-watch" approach seems clinically feasible.
Parents, beware of the side-effects and contraindications to the usage of antibiotics! Side-effects to drugs such as amoxicillin, Augmentin or ampicillin include diarrhea, hives and yeast infections. Children with a previous allergy to these drugs should not take them. Also, the cephalosporin antibiotics cefadroxil and cephalexin may present numerous side-effects, such as upset stomach; nausea; vomiting; depressed white blood cell (WBC) counts; anemia; rashes; and inhibited blood clotting. Contraindications to these may include an allergy to the drug; a blood clotting disorder or history of bleeding problems; phenylketonuria; and stomach or intestinal diseases, especially colitis.
Ciprofloxacin side-effects are upset stomach; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; diarrhea; headache; sleep disturbance; increased risk of tendonitis; dizziness; mood changes; a depressed WBC count; anemia; rashes; and sun sensitivity. Its contraindications include children susceptible to seizures or with central nervous system disorders. Erythromycin side-effects are upset stomach and rash, and it is contraindicated if the child is vomiting or has nausea.
The growing problem of childhood asthma brings a new host of drug exposure to the young child.
Did you know that childhood asthma causes more school absences than any other single pediatric disorder?
Between 1982 and 1992, there was a 56-percent increase in newly diagnosed asthma cases in the United States, and in the past decade the numbers have continued to be staggering.
Common drugs for treatment of asthma:
A vast majority of parents unknowingly give their child medications without properly being warned of the potential side-effects and contrain-dications to these chemicals.
One step you can take is to review these drugs with parents from the PDR or another resource. Parents should have all the information at hand to make an educated decision to the health-care choices and risks when it comes to their children.
Reference
Claudia Anrig, DC
Clovis, California
Editor's note: Part one of this article appeared in the June 16, 2003 issue. A printable version of Dr. Anrig's article is available online at www.chiroweb.com/columnist/anrig. You may also leave a comment or ask a question at her "Talk Back" forum at the same location.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
