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|  Glue ear is so common among young children that about 80 percent of them have had glue ear by the time they are 4 years old.
Glue ear is a build up of sticky fluid in the middle ear, which can impair hearing. It is usually caused by a chronic infection affecting the middle ear, but it can also be brought on following a cold, allergies (40% of cases are due to an allergy to cows milk, cheese, yoghurt, or bananas) or exposure to draughts. Abnormal functioning of the Eustachian tube (a tube that links the middle ear to the back of the throat and allows pressure to be equalised) allows bacteria to enter the middle ear. These bacteria cause the tube to swell and trap them in the middle ear. If your child pays less attention or seem more withdrawn than normal, or has become fidgety or unruly, they could be having hearing problems because of fluid trapped inside the ear. Most glue ear infections are short with about half of affected ears resolving themselves after 3 months, 75% by six months, and only 5% of children will have glue ear for a year or more. In the vast majority of cases glue ear will not persist beyond early childhood. Doctors used to treat all ear infections with antibiotics, but now there is an awareness of resistant bacteria, they prefer to “wait and watch” to see if the infection clears up by itself. In the meantime, there are supplements available to assist. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in ensuring a plentiful supply or the immune cells that line the digestive tract and airways to provide a first line of defence against disease. Vitamin C (with bioflavinoids) helps to fight infections and boost the immune system. It also acts as an anti-viral and anti- bacterial agent – both of which can help with this illness. Echinacea is the best known and researched herb for stimulating the immune system. Over 500 scientific studies have documented the effectiveness of this herb. Research has shown that Echinacea acts as a natural antibiotic and infection fighter and increases the activity of the immune system cells. It also helps stimulate new tissue growth for wound healing, reduces inflammation and inhibits growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi. These properties make Echinacea the ideal herb for treating infection and reducing inflammation in the ear. Slippery Elm is best known for its effectiveness at soothing inflammation of the digestive system. However, it is also acknowledged to help relieve nasal catarrh and has been recognised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe and effective option for sore throat (pharyngitis) and respiratory symptoms, both of which play a part in glue ear. One of the simplest ways to relieve the earache associated with ear infections is to place a warm flannel over the outside of the ear. The heat will aid healing and can bring fast pain relief.
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