Consultant-led diagnosis and treatment for Ear wax protects the ear canal but can cause infection, blockage, or pain when it accumulates. with personalised care and advanced ENT techniques
What is the condition?
Ear wax are waxy substances produce by the sebaceous gland in the ear canal. It serves as a protective mechanism to prevent ear infection and to trap dust or external materials from getting into the ear canal. However, wax may lead to ear infection, blockage or pain if it accumulates in the ear canal.
SYMPTOMS
What to look out for?
The commonest symptoms of ear wax are ear blockage and itchiness. Occasionally there may be pain and this may be an indication of an infection. Some people may experience dizziness and tinnitus especially if the wax is impacting on the ear drum.
TREATMENT
What can be done?
There are 3 ways wax can be removed
1. Wax solvent: These are liquids to soften and dissolve the wax to allow the natural body mechanism expel the wax. This method is less effective but harmless in most cases unless you have ear drum perforation or ongoing infection or have allergy to the solvent. Your pharmacy may be able to recommend an over the counter ear solvent for you.
2. Syringing: This involve the use of warm water to flush out the wax. It is contra-indicated if there is an ear drum perforation or an ongoing infection. This technique is going out of fashion now due to numerous reports of ear drum perforation and infection as a result.
3. Microsuction: This is a direct vacuum suction cleaning of the ear using a microscope for accuracy to suck the wax with the aid of a small tube of 1-2mm in diameter. This method is more effective and is safe even in cases with ear drum perforation or infection.
PREVENTION
What should I do?
Dos
• Do see you doctor if you feel your ear is blocked. Your doctor will confirm if the blockage is due to wax or something else.
• Do use wax solvent regularly depending on the severity of your ear wax
• Do have them removed by an expert if the wax fail to expel by using wax solvent.
Donts
Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear like cotton buds, hair clips, pins, match stick, feathers, paper clips etc
Don’t attempt removing the wax yourself.
Don’t have your ear syringed if you think you may have an ear drum perforation or an infection