Dealing with ear wax
Cotton swabs are standard in many family bathroom. They are handy devices for a variety of care needs, but often used to remove earwax - a common but potentially dangerous practice.
While some people have more earwax than others, usually the ear makes just as much wax as it needs. In some rare cases, children have the excess earwax make ears. If it interferes with hearing or causes pain or discomfort, it must be removed by a doctor. But only a doctor can determine if earwax should be removed and to other problems that could cause symptoms.
Parents - and children - should not try to remove ear wax at home, even with agents that promise to be safe and effective. Otherwise risks damage to the ear canal and hearing may be a child.
Why Ears Make Wax?
Cerumen in the external ear canal, making the interface between the fleshy part of the ear on the outside of the head and the middle ear. The medical term for earwax is cerumen.
Earwax has many important functions. It protects the eardrum and ear canal by providing a waterproof lining of the ear canal and helps it dry and preventing germs cause infections to keep. It also traps dirt, dust and other particles, keeping them from injury or irritation of the eardrum.
After the wax is made slow as it passes through the external auditory canal at the opening of the ear. Then it is either fails or comes during bathing. In most people, the external auditory canal earwax all the time, so that the channel will always have enough wax in it.
In most cases, nothing needs to be done to remove earwax from children's ears; regular bathing is usually enough to keep it at a healthy level.
Home Treatment
If your child complains of ear pain and you see earwax in the ear, it is OK to wipe the outside of the ear with a washcloth. But it is important not to use a cotton swab, a finger, or anything else stuck to the ear as the risk of damaging the delicate ear canal and eardrum or packing the wax in further, could cause infections.
If your child is having any ear pain, pain, hearing problems or discomfort in the ears blocked, talk to your doctor. (In infants and small children tugging at the ears can be a sign of an ear problem.) Many over-the-counter treatments are sold for earwax removal, but do not use it without consulting a doctor.
Ear candles gained a lot of attention as a home remedy for ear wax removal (and general well-being), but the doctors strongly recommended because it is not proven to be safe or effective. In ear candles is inserted from one end of a cone-type device into the ear canal and put the other end in fire, with the idea that the fire and the cones form a vacuum and extract the wax. But trying this at home means a high risk of burning the ear canal and possibly perforation or hole in the eardrum, which can permanently damage hearing.
Earwax Removal
Sometimes doctors remove earwax if it has caused pain and discomfort or interfere with hearing or to get a better look at the eardrum get to check for problems.
Earwax removal is usually performed in the doctor's office. It might be a little discomfort, but it is not painful, although some children may be uncomfortable with the feeling of someone dealing with their ears.
In rare cases where a child does not sit still or together with the doctor, the procedure in an operating room with the child will be given general anesthesia to be performed.
Doctors use a variety of different tools to remove earwax, including a small device with a curve at the end (called a bucket), gripper and suction as well as an otoscope (to see a hand-held tool with a light in regular checkups far into the ear canal). Remove only takes a few minutes and usually requires no further treatment.
If it is a sign of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops. But further treatment at home is not usually after most removals needs.
If you have any concerns about your child's ears or hearing, consult your doctor.