Removing earwax from the child’s ears – What must be observed? | Remove earwax safely

Removing earwax from the child’s ears – What must be observed?

Earwax is usually not harmful to children either. However, some children seem to produce very large amounts of earwax. Normally, however, this normalizes in the course of puberty.

Often the temptation is nevertheless great to remove the substance which is considered to be dirt. However, this is not necessarily useful, since earwax fulfills many natural functions. Therefore, it is usually sufficient to clean the auricle and the entrance of the external auditory canal with a damp cloth.

The back of the auricle should also not be forgotten. This is where dirt often accumulates. Nothing should be inserted into the ear canal itself.

Also soap or shampoo should not enter the ear canal. In the meantime, the use of cotton swabs is not recommended. Children in particular can damage the sensitive eardrum and the auditory canal.

In addition, earwax in the depth of the ear canal cannot usually be sufficiently removed with cotton swabs. It is simply pushed back into the ear canal where it can form a plug of earwax. This hinders the child’s hearing.

Since children’s ears are usually still very sensitive, the use of products suitable for adults, such as ear drops, is not recommended. Products specially designed for children are also sold, but their benefits or safety are still controversial. Further information can be found here: Removing earwax from babiesIt is often recommended to use oil to remove earwax from the ear.

This is dripped into the affected ear. Since earwax is a rather fat-soluble mixture of substances, it should be able to liquefy and be rinsed out with a little water. In most cases, the use of high-quality oils such as almond or walnut oil is recommended.

However, the more widespread olive oil probably also works, although possibly less effectively. Often other substances such as citric acid are added. This should further increase the effectiveness of the cleaning.

Possibly rinsing with pure water is however even superior to the use of olive oil. If liquids such as olive oil are added to the ear, the correct temperature should always be maintained. The organ of equilibrium as well as the associated nerves can react very sensitively to a sudden cooling or warming.

This can lead to dizziness. For this reason, all liquids placed in the ear should always be heated to body temperature. Special sprays for cleaning the ears are sold by different suppliers.

Sprayed into the ear, the ear spray should soften the earwax, making it easier to remove. It should be noted that the sole use of ear sprays is therefore usually not sufficient. The softened earwax still has to be removed from the ear canal, for example by rinsing.

There are two main types of ear sprays. A large group uses salt as a base. The second group, on the other hand, are ear oil sprays.

These are similar to the use of ordinary oil for cleaning the ears, but are usually more convenient to use because of the spray bottle. In general, the instructions on the package insert should be followed carefully when using ear spray. In addition, the removal of earwax is usually not necessarily useful.

If there is no impairment of hearing, earwax is not a hindrance, but even fulfils many important natural functions. The use of ear spray is not recommended, especially for a number of diseases of the ear. Onions or garlic cloves contain many essential oils.

These too should be able to dissolve earwax. Furthermore, onions seem to have an antibacterial effect, which could prevent inflammations. It is recommended to leave the inner part of an onion in the ear overnight.

Of course, the onion should not be pushed too deep into the ear canal. The following morning the earwax should be softened. This makes it easier to remove.However, there are few reliable findings on the efficacy or safety of the method.

Proven and safe methods such as washing with water should therefore probably be preferred. A plug of earwax is compressed earwax that has settled in the external auditory canal and blocks it. As a result, hearing is restricted on the affected side.

In addition, a massive earwax plug can cause further complaints such as itching or a feeling of fullness of the auditory canal. in earwax plugs can be easily and safely removed by a doctor. The physician recognizes the ear plug by looking into the ear.

He usually uses an ear funnel or an otoscope for this purpose. An otoscope is an illuminated ear funnel on a handle. The tip of the funnel is pushed into the ear canal so that the examiner has a clear view into the ear.

Special instruments are available to the physician to remove the earwax plug. However, a visit to the doctor is not necessarily necessary. Often, it is sufficient to wash out the affected ear with water.

Various products, such as special ear drops, can help here. The use of cotton swabs is not recommended. Often they even aggravate the situation, as they push further earwax back into the ear canal and thus further stabilize the plug.

General practitioners or specialized ENT physicians can remove earwax using various techniques. Based on a previous examination, the doctor will suggest the most appropriate treatment. As a rule, the earwax can be rinsed out with water.

Earwax is water-soluble. Alternatively, a saline solution or another cerumenolytic (i.e. earwax-dissolving) agent can be used. These treatments may require a 15 to 30 minute exposure time in advance.

In the case of more stubborn obstructions, immunodeficiency, perforation of the eardrum or even in patients with a very narrow auditory canal, it may be necessary to remove the earwax with small instruments. The physician can aspirate it or remove it with a small hook. These treatments are usually not painful, but patients experience them as unpleasant to varying degrees.

An earwax plug, or cerumen obturans/ceruminal plug, leads to a complete closure of the external auditory canal. There are various causes that can lead to the formation of such a blockage. On the one hand, an overproduction of earwax can be the cause.

Such a plug can also be caused by incorrect ear hygiene, for example if the ears are improperly cleaned with cotton swabs. A naturally very narrow ear canal can also be another factor. This disrupts the flow of secretion and causes blockages.

Hearing aids and Ín-Ear headphones can also hinder the independent cleaning of the ear and thus lead to earwax plugging. Likewise, if you use hairspray frequently, you should be careful to keep your ears covered, as the hairspray can cause sticking. A ceruminous plug makes itself noticeable by a sudden hearing loss.

This usually occurs on one side only. A feeling of pressure as well as a dull, muffled feeling in the affected ear are also signs of this. In this case, a doctor should be consulted who will remove the earwax professionally.