Earwax (earwax) is more common in those who clean the external ear canal with a cotton swab or have oily skin.
It may cause itching, congestion, pain, and hearing loss in the ear. Complaints increase especially after contact with water (bathing, swimming, etc.).
In its treatment, it is removed with the help of a plug curette or by dropping glycerin and softening it and then sucking it with an aspirator. If it does not cause discomfort, it does not need to be removed.
In the past, the method of washing the ear canal with pressurized water was used. Its use has decreased considerably as it can both damage the eardrum and be hygienically unsafe.
Before this type of cleaning, it must be ensured that the eardrum does not have a hole.
Eardrum Perforation
The eardrum may perforate due to trauma or infection. Ear discharge and hearing loss occur from time to time. If it does not close spontaneously within at least 6 weeks, it must be closed with surgery. If the eardrum remains perforated for many years, since the middle ear is open to the outside environment, infections occur in the middle ear mucosa and eventually become chronic. Foul-smelling discharge that progresses by dissolving the ear ossicles and permanent damage to the ear may occur. Hearing loss increases. Eardrum operation is an operation that we call myringoplasty, in which we make a patch using cartilage membrane or fascia. If eardrum perforations are accompanied by polyps and infection in the middle ear and mastioid bone, we perform a larger operation in which we tour the ear bones (types of tympanoplasty or mastoidectomy). If there is a problem with middle ear bone conduction due to eardrum perforation, middle ear bone repair can also be performed (tympanoplasty types, ossiculoplasty). Ultimately, it is important to make the ear a closed environment that is free of infection and capable of hearing.
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