Glue ear
My three-and-a-half-year-old son has just been diagnosed as having glue ear. His hearing has been tested and described as poor and I have been told he should have grommets inserted as soon as possible. I am uneasy about him having a general anaesthetic. Is there an alternative?
Also known as Secretory Otitis Media, Glue ear, which affects up to 40% of children under the age of six, is the accumulation of fluid in small Eustachian tube which connects the inner middle ear to the throat. It commonly develops after a cold or other bacterial or viral infection but can also be caused by an allergic reaction, swollen adenoids or an inflammation of the nose and throat.
Pressure in the middle ear is normally equalised three or four times a minute as the Eustachian tube opens during swallowing. If the tube is blocked, the fluid accumulates, leading to a temporary loss of hearing.
A grommet is a tiny tube that is inserted into the opening of the eardrum to help drain this fluid and to allow air to circulate in the middle ear but Craig Wright, a homeopath who specialises in First Aid treatments, says that before resorting to this type of intervention he would investigate the underlying causes, especially any allergies.
He suggests you can then avoid repeat infections by concentrating on helping the natural drainage and ventilation of the middle ear. This may be as simple as cutting back on avoiding mucous-forming foods such as dairy products and protein and looking for alternatives.
Since there are a number of homeopathic remedies that will help, Craig suggests you seek a constitutional diagnosis with a qualified homeopath who will decide which remedy best suits your son after taking into account other factors such as the type of pain and the nature of any discharge.
One powerful homeopathic remedy that he suggests for children who have repeated ear, nose and throat is Tuberculinum Aviaire. If you decide to buy this over-the-counter, buy a 30c potency.
Immune-boosting Echinacea, in tincture form, may also help by reducing any inflammation of the adenoids and by stimulating the lymphatic system - but if you decide to use this, adjust the dosage to take into account you are treating a very young child.
*Craig Wright practices at Farmacia (020-7831 0830).