Three of every four kids have an ear infection before age four. Usually infection occurs in the middle ear and is called otitis media. But while in the past the usual treatment has involved antibiotics and intubation if the condition becomes severe, the January 3, 2010, issue of Medline Plus reports that there is “New Thinking on What to Do” when it comes to ear infections.

The article includes a great discussion on the overuse of antibiotics for kids and resulting antibiotic resistance. Doctors say watchful waiting is just as helpful as giving kids antibiotics.

Furthermore, a July 2009 report in the British Medical Journal found that ear infections come back more often in kids who’ve been treated with antibiotics. In the three years after being treated for an ear infection, 63 percent of the kids who were given the antibiotic amoxicillin had recurrent ear infections, compared with 43 percent of those not treated with an antibiotic, according to the article.

“Parents are becoming used to the idea that antibiotics are not the first choice,” said Dr. David Tunkel, director of pediatric otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and chairman of the pediatrics committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

But then what should be the first choice? How about prevention? Most experts agree that the following all are helpful

• Don’t smoke. Smoking is an important risk factor for ear infections.
• Breast-feeding your baby can help, as there is evidence that this helps to reduce middle ear infection.
• Wash your hands. This helps to prevent infections’ spread.
• Take your child to a day care center with fewer kids. Crowding children can spread infection.
• Try the Sweet Cure. A natural compound called xylitol can actually prevent future middle ear infections.

Finnish researchers have discovered that xylitol, nature’s bacteria fighter, can help to prevent recurrent ear infections in young children. Xylitol, unlike the usual sugars bacteria feed on, has only five and not six carbon rings, making it unpalatable to the types of pathogenic bacteria that cause middle ear infections, as well as sinusitis, allergies, and asthma.

Indeed, if you haven’t been keeping up on the latest in dental health, xylitol is now widely known to prevent dental caries and to rebuild tooth enamel, based on extensive clinical trials. Xylitol starves the bacterium in the mouth that causes the acidity that leads to cavities.

Dr. Matthi Uhari who was instrumental in demonstrating the very powerful ways that xylitol reduces dental caries in children and adults also found it reduces middle ear infections. Dr. Uhari reported in 1998 in Pediatrics on a study involving some 857 healthy children recruited from day care centers who were randomized to one of five treatment groups to receive control syrup, xylitol sugar syrup, control chewing gum, xylitol gum, or xylitol lozenge. The daily dose of xylitol varied from 8.4 g (chewing gum) to 10 g (syrup).

The occurrence of middle ear infections “was significantly lower in those who received xylitol sugar syrup or gum, and these children required antimicrobials less often than did controls. Xylitol was well tolerated.” The xylitol also was effective in “decreasing the need for antimicrobials.”

HOW TO USE

Be sure you use products that deliver therapeutic amounts of xylitol. Xylitol should be listed as the first or second ingredient and there should be no artificial additives. Xlear makes the best gum, mints and nasal xylitol formulas. The rule of thumb is to wash your nose each time you wash your hands— five times daily—to reduce ear infections. It is very important to ensure that children chew their gum, eat their mints and/or cleanse their nasal passages with the xylitol spray five times a day. Researchers have found that xylitol is most effective at this level of usage. A 2007 study found less effective results at a lower use frequency.

Getting your child (or yourself) to use xylitol five times per day is really not that hard. With the naturally sweet taste that xylitol provides, plus the availability of economical, large jars of both the chewing gum and mints, this may be one action that is good for your child and that your child will love to do. You can even involve your day-care provider—they should know about great benefits of xylitol, too.

Resources

Spry chewing gum, mints and Xlear® Nasal Spray are available at health food stores and natural pharmacies. Visit www.xlear.com to find a store near you.

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