Ear wax management in primary care: what the busy GP needs to know

Munro, Kevin J.; Giles, Thomas C; Smith-Howell, Christine; Nazareth, Irwin

doi:10.3399/bjgp23x732009

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…On the other hand NICE, while not recommending any specific product, suggests using softening agents for up to five days before earwax removal. There is a lack of systematic studies comparing the effectiveness of various durations of ear drop use or the use of drops versus sprays 20 . As there is no evidence that any cerumenolytic agent is more effective than water or saline, water and saline should be the first choice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This kind of eardrops are called cerumenolytics 19 . Cerumenolytics are used as pre-treatment drops or sprays help to soften the hardened wax, making it easier to remove 20 . A prevailing issue is that earwax is frequently left untreated due to the misconception that using pre-treatment softeners alone is adequate 20 .…”

Section: State Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cerumenolytics are used as pre-treatment drops or sprays help to soften the hardened wax, making it easier to remove 20 . A prevailing issue is that earwax is frequently left untreated due to the misconception that using pre-treatment softeners alone is adequate 20 . Using cerumenolytic agents increases the likelihood of cerumen clearance compared to not treating 7 .…”

Section: State Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

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Searching for the Holy Grail among ear drops

Kiełbasa,

Bil,

Kowalczyk

et al. 2024

J Educ Health Sport

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Introduction and aim of the study: Ear wax plays many roles in maintaining ear health, such as cleansing, shielding, and lubricating the external auditory canal. Sometimes, when earwax obstruction occurs, for example as a result of improper hygiene procedures (such as using cotton swabs), it can cause a number of disorders ranging from discomfort to even loss of hearing. In such cases, various methods can be used to remove the cerumen impaction. One of these and also the most commonly used, involves the usage of ear drops, which can contain different active substances (water-based compounds, oil-based compounds, a combination of oil and water-based compounds, and non-water, non-oil solutions). The aim of our study is to present current state of knowledge about effectiveness of various types of ear drops in wax cleaning. Material and methods: Our review is based on the analysis of materials collected in Pubmed”, „Google Scholar” and other scientific articles using keywords: „earwax”, cerumen impaction”, „cerumenolytics”, „ear drops”, „cerumen”, „earwax solvents”, „wax solvents”. Conclusions: Despite numerous studies, the Holy Grail has not been found among ear drops. The majority conducted studies did not show that any of the cerumenolitics were superior to the others in a statistically significant way. The only result that was statistically significant was the one showing a higher effectiveness of 2.5% sodium bicarbonate compared to docusate sodium. Further research is needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: State Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: State Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Searching for the Holy Grail among ear drops

Kiełbasa,

Bil,

Kowalczyk

et al. 2024

J Educ Health Sport

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…16 Normally, excess cerumen naturally finds its way out of the canal and into the ear opening, aided by jaw movement and expected growth of the ear canal's skin. [17][18][19] Some people produce more cerumen than is typical, or produce more under stressful circumstances. Normal cerumen expulsion slows, causing blockages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cerumen lubricates, cleans, and protects the ear canal from dust, foreign particles, and microorganisms 16. Normally, excess cerumen naturally finds its way out of the canal and into the ear opening, aided by jaw movement and expected growth of the ear canal's skin 17-19. Some people produce more cerumen than is typical, or produce more under stressful circumstances.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%