The Dubuque Chiropractor to see - Chiropractor Dubuque

Antibiotics Are Not Always the Answer!

Children's health issues image.

Your child is crying and pulling on his ear. You’re inclined to make an appointment with the doctor. After looking into the ear she tells you that the ear is red, with fluid present, and issues a diagnosis of “otitis media with effusion.” An antibiotic is recommended, “just in case it gets worse,” handing you a prescription for amoxicillin.

Do you go to the pharmacy for the prescription? Or wait and see?

If you’re concerned about the overuse of antibiotics, and you want to protect your child’s health, you have a dilemma. Keep in mind that the American Academy of Family Physicians agree that antibiotics should not be used to treat this type of ear infection. Yet, much of the worldwide overuse of antibiotics is due to ear infections. Physicians write millions of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions each year to treat this largely viral condition. Many, just to placate an insistent parent.

The fact is, there are many conditions antibiotics cannot treat:
  • Viruses – antibiotics have no effect on a virus
  • Pain – antibiotics cannot relieve or take away pain
  • Ear fluid – antibiotics cannot reduce fluid buildup

In his book, Beyond Antibiotics, Michael Schmidt, DC reports that Gottfried Gutmann, MD, a prominent researcher in the field of manipulative medicine, reported on the treatment of more than 1,000 infants and children using chiropractic adjustments instead of antibiotic treatment. Gutmann found that many common childhood ear, nose, throat and bronchial conditions respond better to chiropractic adjustments than to medications. Turns out, improving nervous system integrity using chiropractic care1 may allow the body to resolve these common childhood problems on their own.

If you have or know a child who experiences frequent childhood illness, a visit to our office could end the “merry-go-round” of antibiotic usage. We’ve been able to help many children. May we share our patient success stories with you?


1Additional research.
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Dr. Jeff Asks some important questions of interest to Dubuque residents - Chiropractor Dubuque Dr. Jeff Asks...

Can someone who has had back surgery receive chiropractic care?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. However, what we find is that surgical interventions will often produce spinal instability above or below the involved level. This is will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
How do you know when you're healthy?
Ask most Dubuque residents this simple question and you're likely to hear, "When you feel good" or "When you're at your proper weight for your height" or "When you have lots of energy and vitality." Great answers. But our chiropractic patients know that true health is when your body is working as it was designed. True health is how you function, not how you feel.