Impacted earwax: Signs, causes and what to do about it

If you’ve noticed a ball of earwax resting in your ear, or even noticed earwax falling out of your ear while eating or talking, you may wonder if it’s normal.

When earwax comes out on its own, it means your ears are working correctly. Chewing, talking and regular bathing is often enough to move earwax up and out of the ear. Usually, earwax gets rinsed away in the shower without you knowing it’s happening. But it’s possible – and totally normal – for earwax to come out in balls, clumps or lumps.

The bigger problem is when earwax stays in your ears. When too much earwax builds up, it can result in impacted earwax, something that usually requires treatment. Below, we cover what’s a normal amount of earwax, what it should look like, signs of impacted earwax and more.

What is earwax?

You likely know that earwax is the material that lines the inside of your ear canal. But do you know where earwax comes from? Earwax (also called cerumen) forms when dead skin cells, sweat, hair and debris (such as shampoo or dirt) combine with substances made by the glands in your ear.

While all this might sound a little gross, earwax plays an important role in keeping you healthy. Earwax protects your ear canal from water, dirt, fungi and bacteria that can cause ear infections. It also makes your ear canal more comfortable by moisturizing the skin and preventing it from drying out.

If you didn’t have earwax, you’d be much more likely to have ear infections and other problems. So unless your earwax is bothering you, it’s best to leave it alone.

Types of earwax

There are two types of earwax: wet and dry.

• Wet earwax is thick and sticky. In other words, it’s not really all that wet – although it’s possible that your earwax can become watery after swimming or a shower. But if you have watery fluids coming out of your ear, it can be a sign of an ear infection or another problem, and you should make an appointment with your primary care doctor.
• Dry earwax is usually gray or white, flaky and easily falls out of the ear. While it’s less likely that you’ll get impacted earwax if you have dry earwax, it’s still possible.

The type of earwax you have is genetically determined by your biological parents and where your ancestors came from. South Asians, East Asians and Indigenous people are more likely to have dry earwax. People with African or European ancestry usually have wet earwax. The wet type of earwax is a dominant trait – if one of your parents has wet earwax, you’ll likely have it, too.

What color should earwax be?

Earwax can come in a range of colors, including brown, orange, white, red, green, black and gray. Many of the colors are healthy, but some are not.

Normal wet earwax is usually yellow, brown or orange. Dry earwax is typically gray or white. Earwax in children tends to be lighter in color.

Earwax color chart

The following chart shows what the colors mean, depending on the type of earwax you have. The highlighted boxes are the types of earwax that may not be healthy, and you may want to talk to a doctor about it.

Color	Wet earwax	Dry earwax
White	Fresh earwax	Normal earwax
Yellow	Fresh earwax	—
Light brown	Normal earwax	—
Darker orange	Normal earwax	—
Dark brown	Older earwax. The color comes from the dirt and bacteria in it.	—
Gray	Buildup of dust or other particles in earwax (talk to a doctor)	Normal earwax
Black	Earwax buildup or impacted earwax (talk to a doctor)	Earwax buildup or impacted earwax (talk to a doctor)
Red	Your earwax may include blood (talk to a doctor)	Your earwax may include blood (talk to a doctor)
Green	Possible infection (talk to a doctor)	Possible infection (talk to a doctor)

How do you know if your earwax is impacted?

Common signs and symptoms of earwax buildup include:

• Hearing loss in the affected ear
• Ear pain
• Ringing in the ears
• A feeling of fullness in the ear

Of course, it’s not always easy to know if you have too much earwax. Symptoms of earwax buildup can also be signs of other conditions, including ear infections, allergies, a cold or the flu. And even if your earwax is gray or black, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to get treatment for impacted earwax.

But if your ears are bothering you, it’s a good idea to make a primary care appointment. Your doctor will be able to determine if your symptoms are caused by impacted earwax or something else, and what type of treatment you need.

What happens if earwax is not removed?

It’s possible for unremoved earwax to lead to an ear infection like swimmer’s ear, causing worsening symptoms such as: severe pain, itchiness, drainage, fever, coughing and dizziness. If you notice signs of infection, you should make an appointment to see your primary care doctor.

What causes impacted earwax?

You may get impacted earwax if you put something in your ear that pushes wax farther in, forming a blockage. This is one of the reasons why you shouldn’t put anything – including Q-tips – inside your ear canal.

It’s also possible that frequently using earbuds, a hearing aid or earplugs may prevent the earwax from coming out of your ears, leading to earwax blockages.

Having too much earwax is another reason for impaction. While your body naturally gets rid of earwax, it can only handle so much. If there’s too much, some of it may harden before your body is able to push it out through the ear canal. This extra wax can build up over time, causing impacted earwax.

Why do some people have a lot of earwax?

About 1 in 10 children, 1 in 20 adults, and 1 in 3 elderly people have too much earwax. Here are the most common reasons:

• Sweaty ears–The same glands that produce sweat also help create earwax. If you exercise a lot or have high stress levels, it’s possible that you may have more earwax. Still, there are far too many physical and mental benefits of exercise to skip out on your workouts.
• Hairy ears–Hair is one of the things that you find in earwax. So if you have more ear hair, it’s possible that you’ll have more earwax.
• Frequent or chronic ear infections–When you have an ear infection, bacteria or viruses grow in your ear which can increase the pressure in your ear. Your body produces earwax to protect your eardrum from being damaged by the added pressure, and it will get rid of the extra earwax when you’re healthy again. But if your ear infection doesn’t go away or if you keep getting them, you may have too much earwax for your body to manage.
• Ear anatomy that’s different–If your ear is shaped differently, it can affect how much earwax your ear produces.
• Overcleaning your ears–When you remove all your earwax, that can be a signal to your body to make more.

How to safely remove impacted earwax

There’s not much you can do to reduce the amount of earwax that your body produces. The one thing you can control is how you clean your ears.

Ear nose and throat (ENT) doctors like to say that you shouldn’t put anything smaller than an elbow inside your ear canal – in other words, don’t put anything in your ear. But don’t worry, there are ways to clean your ears without Q-tips.

Treating impacted earwax at home

If you have extra earwax, you may be able to treat it at home. Here are things you can try:

• Soften the earwax by putting a couple drops of baby oil, mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide in your ear. Hold your head sideways while the drops sit in your ear for a couple minutes. This should loosen the earwax so that when you tilt your head the other way, the earwax comes out.
• Use over-the counter (OTC) eardrops that include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (such as the Debrox Earwax Removal Kit or the Murine Earwax Removal System). But these medications can irritate your ear so be sure to follow the directions.

Often, the safest way to get rid of impacted earwax is to make an appointment with an ENT doctor or a primary care doctor.

Are at-home earwax removal tools safe?

As mentioned before, we don’t recommend that you put anything in your ear. If you put an earwax removal tool into your ear, you may push earwax farther in and possibly damage your eardrum.

You may have seen at-home devices that say they’ll suction or vacuum out your earwax. However, most doctors say that you should not use them because there’s a possibility that you’ll harm your ear. You may perforate (rip a hole) in your eardrum, damage the skin in the ear canal or eardrum, or cause an ear infection. Because these devices tend to be noisy, they can also affect your hearing – for example, it can make tinnitus worse if you have it.

Is ear candling safe?

No. Ear candling involves lighting a long candle and putting it in your ear canal – the idea is that the heat of the flame will draw the earwax out. But there’s no proof that it works, and it’s possible to burn yourself with the candle or drip wax into your ear canal. So, it is not recommended to use ear candling as a way to remove impacted earwax.

Treating impacted earwax in the doctor’s office

ENT doctors and some primary care doctors can usually take care of your earwax during an office visit. Professional earwax removal includes the following methods:

• Use a small curved tool called a curet to remove the impacted earwax
• Suction the ear canal to remove earwax
• Flush earwax from the ear canal using a water pick or a rubber-bulb syringe
• Remove earwax during an ear endoscopy procedure

You may notice that these methods seem similar to ones that you shouldn’t do at home. The reason they are safer when performed by a doctor is because they are specially trained to perform these procedures in a way that doesn’t cause damage. Plus, they have the tools that allow them to look into your ear so they can see exactly what they’re doing.

We’re here for your ears

Most people don’t need to worry about too much earwax. Plus, it’s usually a good idea to leave your earwax alone since it helps to protect your ears from injury and infection. But if you’re experiencing symptoms that you think may be from impacted earwax or if you have signs of an ear infection, talk to your primary care doctor or an ENT doctor. Not only will they help you get rid of your current symptoms, they can also give you advice about how to keep things clear in the future.

Earwax (Cerumen Impaction) – ENT Health

Cleaning a working ear can be done by washing it with a soft cloth, but do not insert anything into the ear. Ideally, the ear canals should never have to be cleaned. However, that isn’t always the case. The ears should be cleaned when enough earwax gathers to cause symptoms or to prevent a needed assessment of the ear by your doctor. This condition is call cerumen impaction.

Most cases of ear wax blockage respond to home treatments used to soften wax. Patients can try placing a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial drops in the ear. Detergent drops such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (available in most pharmacies) may also aid in the removal of wax.

Irrigation or ear syringing is commonly used for cleaning and can be performed by a physician or at home using a commercially available irrigation kit. Common solutions used for syringing include water and saline, which should be warmed to body temperature to prevent dizziness. Ear syringing is most effective when water, saline, or wax dissolving drops are put in the ear canal 15 to 30 minutes before treatment. Caution is advised to avoid having your ears irrigated if you have diabetes, a hole in the eardrum (perforation), tube in the eardrum, skin problems such as eczema in the ear canal or a weakened immune system.

Manual removal of earwax is also effective. This is most often performed by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist, using suction or special miniature instruments, and a microscope to magnify the ear canal. Manual removal is preferred if your ear canal is narrow, the eardrum has a perforation or tube, other methods have failed, or if you have skin problems affecting the ear canal, diabetes or a weakened immune system.

Why Is It Dangerous to Use Swabs to Remove Earwax?

Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. This is often caused by attempts to clean the ear with cotton swabs. Most cleaning attempts merely push the wax deeper into the ear canal which is shaped like an hourglass, causing a blockage at the narrowing part of the ear canal. In addition, accidental trauma to the ear drum or ear bones can occur if the swab is pushed too deep.

Good intentions to keep ears clean may lessen the ability to hear. The ear is a delicate and complicated body part, including the skin of the ear canal and the eardrum. Therefore, special care should be given to this part of the body. Discontinue the habit of inserting cotton-tipped swabs or other objects into the ear canals.

When Should I Talk to a Doctor?

If home treatments do not help, or if wax has accumulated so much that it blocks your ear canal and your ability to hear, an ENT specialist may prescribe eardrops designed to soften wax, or they may wash or vacuum it out. Your ENT specialist may also need to remove the wax under microscopic visualization.

If there is a possibility of a perforation in the eardrum, consult a physician prior to trying any over-the-counter remedies. Putting eardrops or other products in the ear with the presence of an eardrum perforation may cause pain or an infection. Washing water through such a hole could start an infection.

If you are prone to repeated wax impaction or use hearing aids, consider seeing your doctor every six to 12 months for a checkup and routine preventive cleaning.

Ear plug: symptoms, treatment and possible complications

Contents

• General information
• Sulfur plug – what is it?
• What is in earwax? Why does a person need it?
• Why is sulfur formed?
• Is it possible to have pain in the ear with cerumen?
• Worsening of symptoms
• Ear plug – description and types
• Causes of wax plug
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Is it possible to self-clean the ears
• Use of cotton swabs.
• Why did he come back?
• Consequences and complications
• Prevention

Contents

General information

Sulfur plug gradually increases in size and becomes more solid. But until the sulfur plug completely blocks the ear canal, the patient does not experience any changes in the ear. According to its consistency, sulfur plug can be paste-like, plasticine-like and solid.

Sulfur plug usually shows up suddenly. Often this happens after water gets into the ear. Upon contact with water, the sulfur plug rapidly increases in volume and completely obturates the lumen of the ear canal. There are typical signs indicating a sulfuric plug: ear congestion, noise in it, hearing loss (hearing loss). Sulfur plug can be manifested by autophony – the echo of one’s own voice in the ear. If the sulfuric plug produces pressure on the eardrum, then reflex nausea, coughing, headaches, dizziness can be observed. With prolonged compression of the eardrum with sulfur plug, inflammation of the membrane (myringitis) and the middle ear cavity (otitis media) can develop, which is manifested by the appearance of pain.

Sulfur plug – what is it?

Sulfur plug is a dense formation consisting of sebum and sulfur. All these products are produced by the ear glands.

Sulfur plug contains cells of the desquamated epithelium lining the external auditory meatus. It also contains dust particles.

Cork may have different colors. Sometimes it is yellow and sometimes dark brown. At first, the cork is soft, and then it becomes dense and can resemble a stone.

Sulfur plug is formed in approximately 4% of the inhabitants of Russia and 6% of the inhabitants of the whole world. Most often it is found in adults. Sulfur plug in childhood is a rare phenomenon.

Although statistics indicate that this problem is not very common in today’s society, doctors say otherwise. In their opinion, the statistics are significantly underestimated. There is evidence that during the course of life, almost every person at least once encounters a sulfur plug.

There are some interesting facts about earwax that simply cannot be ignored:

• In the Middle Ages, sulfur was used as a lip care product. She also wrote ancient manuscripts.
• Wax from women’s ears has an acidity higher than the acidity of men’s earwax.
• The composition of this substance differs not only depending on the gender of a person, but also on his race. So, in Asians, sulfur is low-fat and dry, while in African Americans it is soft and contains a lot of fat.
• The story itself proves the fact that the ears have the ability to self-purification of sulfur. The described situation happened at the beginning of the twentieth century. In one Chinese man, a bamboo chip damaged the integrity of the eardrum. They tried to extract it, but each attempt ended in failure, as the sliver opened up and could completely break the membrane. Then the man was left alone and decided to just watch him. However, the ear was not inflamed. Over time, the sliver approached the edge of the eardrum, and then went out along the wall of the ear canal. There were no signs of injury in the ear.

What is in earwax? Why does a person need it?

Sulfur contains fats, cholesterol, wax esters and unsaturated fatty acids. This composition of sulfur does not allow it to dissolve in water, but at the same time it provides lubrication of the dermis lining the ear canal, protects it from dust and drying out.

Ear wax contains antibacterial components, as well as lysozyme. It destroys the wall of microbes. It also contains immunoglobulins, which allow you to maintain local immunity. All these sulfur components, as well as the acidic environment in the external auditory canal, are a reliable protection of the internal structures of the ear from pathogenic flora.

Sulfur production is a natural process that the body needs to protect itself from external attacks.

Why is sulfur formed?

Sulfur is formed in all people. It lubricates the ear canals and protects them from dust, dirt, insects and infections.

All these foreign bodies, getting into the ear, settle on sulfur, it thickens and comes out on its own after we talk or chew. And only in some people it cannot come out on its own and accumulates inside the ear canal, creating a plug there.

Each of the components that make up sulfur has its own purpose:

• Fats keep the ear skin from getting wet if water gets into the ear
• Acidic environment prevents bacteria and fungi from multiplying

This is interesting. Each of us produces 15-20 mg of sulfur per month.

Is it possible to have pain in the ear with cerumen?

Wax plugs in the ears may not show themselves for a long time

Wax plugs accumulated in the ear canal may not show themselves for a long time until the entire ear canal is closed. When the entire space of the ear canal is closed, and there is no passage to the tympanic membrane, then the following symptoms may appear:

• Ear congestion
• Temporary obstruction of one ear when chewing
• One’s own voice resounds in the ears
• Headaches

Aggravation of symptoms

The process of blocking the lumen of the ear canal remains unnoticed for a long time: no changes are felt as long as at least a minimal lumen remains. The first symptoms of a closed sulfuric plug are similar to the sensations when water gets into the ear or pressure drops:

• congestion and hearing loss
• specific perception of the sounds of one’s own voice (a kind of echo in the head).

If you do not get rid of the plug immediately, the symptoms worsen, and the person experiences pain, hears extraneous noises, dizziness and a hacking cough often occur. It is advisable to contact an otolaryngologist when the very first signs appear. The doctor, using special equipment, will flush and the problem will disappear. However, if it is not possible to get qualified help, you can try to get rid of the plug in your ear yourself.

See also: How to pierce and remove ear wax in the ear at home in children and adults?

Important! The hearing organs are very sensitive, therefore, in the absence of at least minimal knowledge of anatomy, self-treatment should not be practiced. Inept manipulations are fraught with complete deafness and other complications.

Ear plug – description and types

Ear plug is the formation of a large amount of compacted wax in the ear Ear plug is the formation of a large amount of compacted wax in the ear

Ear plug is the formation of a large amount of compacted wax in the ear

Plug is the accumulation in the ear passages of the protective substance of the hearing organ – sulfur, which occurs as a result of the work of the glands located in the ears. It can be of various colors, density and composition.

The ear can be cleared of sulfur masses spontaneously during jaw movements. However, for certain reasons, sulfur stops leaving and begins to accumulate, forming a plug.

Depending on the consistency and shades, the following types of corks are distinguished:

• Pasty – has a yellowish color and is characterized by soft formation.
• Plasticine-like – such a cork of a brown hue, in its consistency resembles plasticine.
• Dry – is a hard plug that adheres firmly to the walls of the ear canals. The color of this formation is very dark.
• Epideromidal – hard to remove plug due to its density, almost stony. Contains sulfur with parts of the epidermis, impurities of purulent secretions are possible. Often provokes an inflammatory process in the ears.

Wax buildup in the ear passages favors hearing loss and serious complications. If the plugs are dense and hard, then their removal is difficult.

Causes of wax plug

There are the following factors that lead to the formation of ear plug:

• Violation of hygiene rules. If a person uses cotton swabs to clean the ear canal too often, or uses sharp objects such as toothpicks for this purpose, this will lead to the formation of cerumen. By such actions, it injures the skin, in response to which the sulfur glands begin to work more actively. Earwax is pushed deep into the passage and compacted. As a result, self-cleaning becomes impossible. Too rough movements with a cotton swab lead to damage to the cilia of the external auditory canal, so they are no longer able to perform their functions as expected.
• Features of anatomy. Sometimes the human ear canal is too narrow or tortuous from birth. This becomes an obstacle to self-cleaning of the ear from sulfur. Such anatomical features can be either congenital or acquired. The shape of the ear canal may change as a result of an injury.
• Increased separation of earwax. If the lipid balance in the human body is disturbed, this leads to an increase in the amount of cholesterol in the ear canal. This substance is part of the earwax. It acquires increased viscosity, the process of its removal from the ear is difficult. Metabolic disorders can be a hereditary pathology, or develop against the background of certain diseases, for example, with atherosclerosis.
• Inflammation and infectious diseases affecting the external auditory canal. Any diseases of the outer ear lead to the fact that the sebaceous and sulfuric glands activate their work. As a result, the ear simply does not have time to cope with such volumes of sulfur. In addition, there is a narrowing of the ear canal due to inflammation and swelling of its tissues. This is a mechanical barrier to the release of sulfur. During the illness, the qualitative composition of earwax changes. It becomes less lysozyme and immunoglobulins, which leads to secondary damage to the ear glands, and the course of inflammation only worsens.
• Wearing a hearing aid. The hearing aid rubs the skin of the ear canal, in response to this, the sulfur glands begin to produce more sulfur. A similar situation can be observed with frequent use of headphones. The sulfuric secret is pushed into the deep structures of the passage and compacted. Also, this factor can provoke the development of inflammation.

• Excessive ear canal hair. When there is too much hair in the ear canal, it will interfere with the normal flow of wax through it. Most often, this problem occurs in older people.
• Diseases of the skin of the external auditory canal. If the patient suffers from psoriasis or eczema, then the epidermis of the skin of the ear canal exfoliates in excess, mixes with sulfur, thickens and blocks the outlet. Also, against the background of non-infectious inflammation, the work of the sulfur glands increases, which exacerbates the problem.

• Working in dusty environments. If a person works in a mine, mill or other industry where there is a lot of dust, then it will certainly settle in the ear canal and disrupt the work of his cilia.
• Foreign body in the external auditory canal. If there is any foreign body in the ear canal, the glands will produce more secretion to get rid of it. As a result, a sulfur plug may form. Moreover, for the self-cleaning of the passage, it will have an obstacle in the form of this foreign object.
• Prolonged exposure to dry air. If the air humidity drops to 40% or less, the skin of the ear canal will dry out. As a result, a hard sulfur plug will form.
• Age features. As the body ages, the mechanisms for cleaning the ear from the secret deteriorate, and its production increases. An increase in the amount of hair in the ears also contributes to the formation of cork.

Symptoms

As a rule, at the initial stages of development, the pathological process is asymptomatic. The clinical picture begins to appear when there is an almost complete overlap of the auditory canal – up to 70%. At this stage of sulfur plug formation, the clinical picture may be as follows:

• significant hearing impairment in one or both ears, in some cases total deafness may occur;
• stuffy feeling;
• the patient hears an echo when talking.

If the pathological process develops closer to the tympanic membrane, then the following symptoms may be observed:

• impaired coordination;
• nausea, sometimes with vomiting;
• headache;
• frequent yawning;
• dry cough, for no apparent reason.

In the event that the process of accumulation of sulfur occurs for a long time and the plug is not removed, then an inflammatory process in the ear canal may develop. The general symptoms of cerumen may be accompanied by the following:

• sensation of liquid in the ear;
• purulent exudate;
• elevated body temperature.

It should be noted that the presence of such a clinical picture in a child or adult does not always indicate that a sulfur plug has formed. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by an ENT after examination.

See also: Plug in the ear: what to do to get rid of it?

Treatment

The treatment process in a medical facility

Only a doctor can tell you how to get rid of a wax plug in your ear after examining the ear canal. The method of removal will depend on the degree of development of the pathological process. In most cases, the removal of the conglomerate is carried out by a wet or dry method.

In the first case, the extraction process is as follows: the patient sits on a chair and the doctor injects a warm solution along the upper wall of the ear canal.

In more complex cases, it is not possible to remove the cork in one such procedure. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide can be used to soften the conglomerate – you need to instill it no more than 4 times a day, 2-3 drops. As an alternative to peroxide, you can use A-cerumen drops, but only in consultation with your doctor.

The dry method is less commonly used because it can be painful. In this case, the doctor removes the cork in parts using a special hook. Upon completion of the process, the ear canal is washed with a warm antiseptic solution to prevent the development of the inflammatory process.

Wax plug can only be removed at home if it is absolutely certain that the wax plug is the cause of the hearing loss. However, this is an extreme measure and after that, even if the hearing returns to normal, you should contact the ENT.

Unauthorized removal of the wax plug can only be done with hydrogen peroxide, putting 2-3 drops into the ear canal. As an analogue, you can use special drops for this. Do not use cotton swabs or other third-party items to remove the cork. Such actions can not only “push” the plug deeper, but also damage the ear canal, which will lead to negative consequences.

It should be noted that “A-cerumen” for removing sulfur plugs may be prohibited:

• in case of violation of the integrity of the eardrum;
• in the presence of otolaryngological diseases;
• if the patient has had purulent otitis media in the past;
• in the presence of intolerance to the components of the drug.

In general, it should be understood that only a doctor knows how to remove wax plugs in the ears correctly. Self-treatment at home is a last resort.

How to clean your ear with a syringe yourself

The easiest way to clear plugs from your ears is to wash them with water or medicated liquid. In clinics, they are washed with a special Janet syringe with a rubber tube. At home, a disposable large syringe for injections without a needle is suitable.

How to rinse your ear with a syringe yourself:

1. Stand by the bathroom sink or grab a basin.
2. Draw a full syringe of boiled warm water or room temperature furacilin solution.
3. Bend over the container with your affected ear. Pull the earlobe a little up and back, enter the liquid into the ear canal under pressure.
4. Rinse this way yourself several times in succession.
5. Dry with a towel and insert a shallow cotton swab for 10 minutes to dry the mucosa.

If the cork is small, it will pop out quickly and relief will come immediately. If necessary, the procedure for washing the ears from sulfur plugs is repeated several times throughout the day. If such manipulations do not help or bring pain, they should be stopped and make an appointment with a doctor.

Home flushing can also be performed on children, but with extreme caution. Their ear canal is narrow, and the water inside causes some discomfort – the child can reflexively twitch and damage the mucous membrane. In order to avoid such a situation, it is better to contact a specialist.

Dry removal

How can you pierce an ear plug if the popular methods don’t work or don’t work? There is an alternative option – the so-called dry removal. The following procedures are widely used in ENT practice:

1. Vacuum aspiration – suction of accumulated secretions using a special tube with negative pressure. The process is painless, the only negative is the loud sound during the operation of the device. Indispensable for violations of the tympanic septum.
2. Curettage – penetration into the auricle with a special curette in order to mechanically remove the cork. The procedure is unpleasant, therefore it is prescribed mainly with a solid consistency of sulfur.
3. Phytocandles – extraction of sulfur deposits by the vacuum principle. Purification is carried out using a funnel made of beeswax and essential oil. In the supine position, the ear is lubricated with a moisturizing cream and covered with a napkin with a slot for the auditory canal. The upper end of the candle is set on fire, and the lower end is attached to the passage. In this position, it is held until it burns out to the mark, approximately 2/3 of the length. The ear is wiped and closed with a cotton swab for 15 minutes. The mechanism of action is to warm up and soften the cork, which comes out more easily. Additionally, phytocandles relieve excessive pressure in the auricle, improve well-being.

The first two procedures are only available in the clinical office. They require special tools and medical supervision. Phyto funnels are easy to use at home. You can prepare them yourself or buy them at any pharmacy.

Softening of the ear plug

Because the wax accumulates for a long time, the result is a rather hard clot that sits tightly in the ear. You can try softening it with warm oil, but peroxide is faster and more effective.

• Lie on the opposite side of the body from the cork and carefully pour 3-5 drops of the solution into the ear. He will immediately come into contact with sulfuric secretions and hiss. This is a natural process, you need to stop the procedure only in case of pain.
• Cover the ear with cotton and wait about 10 minutes (or until the hissing stops) in the same position on the side.
• After the specified time, tilt the head so that the peroxide can flow out, then dry the ear.

It happens that the cork comes out even at the stage of softening. If this happens, then rinsing is not required and it is enough just to wipe the auricle dry.

Method of therapy – cerumengolysis

There is another effective method of therapy – cerumengolysis, which is based on the introduction into the lumen of the auditory canal of special substances – cerumenolytics that dissolve earwax, as a rule, they contain carbamide peroxide or sodium bicarbonate. Penetrating inside the sulfur plug, these and similar drugs dissolve it without causing swelling. Contraindications for the use of cerumenolytics are mainly individual intolerance to the drug or trauma to the eardrum, as well as an age limit of up to 2.5 years.

Using the Janet Syringe

Put a rubber cap on the tip of the Janet syringe so as not to damage the ear tissue. Then, a saline solution heated to 37 ° C is poured into it. A man is standing, and on his shoulder is a container for collecting water.

See also: Wax plugs in the ears – how to remove it yourself

The doctor pulls the ear up and back, and then sends a stream of water from the syringe into the ear canal. It should flow along the upper wall of the auditory opening. The fluid supply is carried out in shocks. Water flows out of the ear into the tray.

Then the ear is dried with a cotton swab and turunda impregnated with an antiseptic is placed in it for 15 minutes.

Vacuum removal

Vacuum removes only soft deposits. The procedure is indicated for patients who have broken the integrity of the eardrum. It is also carried out to remove residual fluid from the ear after washing.

The patient sits on a chair. An aspiration tube is inserted into the ear passage, after which the doctor turns on the device. It creates a negative pressure that pushes the cork out.

During the procedure, a person will hear a loud sound, although modern devices are not very noisy.

Also, vacuum aspiration can cause disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, which can lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting. However, if the doctor uses a microscope during the procedure, then the likelihood of developing such side effects is minimal.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes help to cope with the problem if there are no complications.

Folk remediesFolk remedies

When there were no specific medicines and hardware techniques, earwax was removed using the simplest means: 4-5 drops three times a day;

Unfortunately, for people with special canal designs or those who need to wear hearing aids, preventive measures are unlikely to avoid this problem. If earwax plugs have already formed, then you now know how to get rid of them at home quickly and safely.

Is it possible to self-clean the ears

The external auditory canal communicates with the inside of the temporomandibular joint. While a person is talking or chewing food, sulfur moves from the eardrum outward.

The skin lining the ear canal grows as fast as human nails. As it grows, it pushes the ear secret out. Thus, the sulfur, which is attached to the eardrum, after 2-3 months, will independently be near the exit from the ear canal.

In addition, the auditory tube is covered with small hairs that are constantly in motion. Their vibrations also push the earwax out.

However, the self-cleaning mechanism of earwax can sometimes fail, resulting in wax blockage.

Use of cotton swabs.

The deeper the cotton swab is inserted into the ear canal, the more the wax is compacted. This will lead to the fact that it will become larger in size and it will be more difficult to get rid of it.

The stick can damage the skin of the ear canal and even the eardrum itself, so they should not be used.

Why did he come back?

Many are sure that if otitis media has happened once, the disease will recur constantly. But the point is not at all in the first episode of the disease, but in the anatomical features of the ear, which can be the cause of recurrent otitis media.

For example, behind the ear canal is the mastoid process of the temporal bone, which is normally covered with air cells. However, it happens that there are too few cells or not at all. This feature can lead to frequent otitis media.

Another cause of inflammation in the ear is a too tortuous external auditory meatus, in which sulfur accumulates in abundance.

If you know about these features of the structure of your ear, you should pay special attention to the prevention of otitis media.

Sequelae and complications

If not treated, there is a risk of serious complications. Sulfur plug can have a mechanical effect on soft tissues and the eardrum. Constant irritation not only causes discomfort, but can also be quite painful.

Ear plug provokes so-called distant pains. If the sulfur is close to the eardrum, presses on it or starts to move, these phenomena are reflected in the form of pain and throbbing in the ears. This is due to the presence of nerve endings that make the membrane extremely sensitive. Also, solid sulfur can lead to perforation of the membrane.

Pressure on the nerve endings leads to abnormal reflex reactions at the autonomic level. This is a conditional reaction of the body to a stimulus that affects certain sensors. It can manifest itself in cardiac arrhythmia, increased sweating, even when there are no real prerequisites for such symptoms.

There are a number of other risks associated with the development of inflammation. If some space remains between the eardrum and the accumulation of sulfur, but the ear canal is almost completely blocked, then exudate begins to accumulate in this area, which is a favorable condition for the reproduction of bacteria. As a result, inflammation of the mucous epithelium occurs. As a result, you can get such complications as:

• otitis externa;
• otitis media;
• labyrinthitis;
• myringitis;
• tympanosclerosis.

Sulfur plug can lead to an inflammatory process Sulfur plug can lead to an inflammatory process

The treatment of these diseases is quite difficult and in any case has its consequences. It is much easier to prevent complications and get rid of the plug in the ear in a timely manner.

Prophylaxis

As a preventive measure, it is recommended that an adult visit an otolaryngologist once a year. This will be enough to avoid ear plugs. The symptoms and treatment of this trouble can be both mild and severe, depending on how long the person has been delaying contacting a specialist.

If there is a blockage in the ears, the symptoms in adults are in most cases quite noticeable. Immediately after their appearance, you need to visit a specialist. The doctor will examine the external passage and, if an excess of sulfur is found in it, he will professionally clean it.

Those who have excessive hair growth in the ear canal, as well as those who constantly use hearing aids, should have such professional ear hygiene carried out regularly. This will help avoid clogging.

Sources

• https://aif.ru/health/life/uho_zalozhilo_kak_otlichit_otit_ot_sernoy_probki
• https://bezotita.ru/ushnye-zabolevaniya/sernaya-probka-v-uhe.html
• https://globalmedclub.ru/bolezni/probki/priznaki-i-simptomy-u-vzroslyh.html

symptoms, causes and treatment of disease

Ear scabies, ear mite, otodectosis are all names for the same disease that is common in cats. A pet suffering from it in advanced cases can lose its hearing and even die. Therefore, it is important for four-legged owners to know how to recognize the symptoms of the disease, how to treat otodectosis, and how to prevent ear mites from infecting a pet.

The disease is caused by the parasite Otodektes cynotys, an arthropod about half a millimeter in size, second only to fleas in abundance. These mites love warm and humid places, so they most often settle in the auricle, ear canal and eardrum of an animal, feeding on sulfur, exfoliated epithelial cells and lymph.

Long bristles on the legs of parasites, their secretions and feces, as well as their bites, which damage the skin and contribute to the development of a secondary infection, cause inflammation, severe itching and pain in the cat. Combing the problem area, the animal can transfer ticks to a healthy ear, so most often cats suffer from bilateral otitis media. In addition, ticks can be found not only in the auditory canal, but also on the head, withers and other parts of the body.

Colonies of parasites grow very quickly, rapidly aggravating the course of the disease. One female tick lays 5–10 eggs daily in the ear canal, which become larvae in four days and adults in 2–3 weeks. At the same time, it is important to take into account that ticks can live on objects for about 12 days, for example, on a couch or carpet, therefore, in order to avoid recurrence, the cat’s treatment for otodectosis is carried out in several stages.

Where and how can an animal become infected? But the risk of picking up a tick is high for all cats, as there are many ways of infection: both infected animals and surfaces, and vectors, which can even be people.

First, , a cat can become infected at birth if its mother is a carrier of parasites, and can also get ear mites from contact with a sick relative. Especially dangerous in this regard are meetings with stray cats – most of them suffer from otodectosis.

Secondly , a pet can pick up parasites while walking down the street or walking in a park where infected animals have previously visited. Ear mites don’t just affect cats: otodectosis also occurs in dogs, ferrets, and some fur-bearing animals.

Third, , the owner can bring the ear mites home on their hands, clothes or shoes. To do this, it is not even necessary to stroke someone else’s cat, which has otodectosis. You can just sit on the couch where a sick animal likes to relax, take a walk in places where stray cats gather, or walk along the entrance of a house where pets infected with parasites live in apartments.

After an ear mite infection, a cat does not immediately become unwell: it usually takes several weeks before signs of illness appear.

Symptoms of infection

Suspect that a cat is affected by an ear mite can be based on a number of signs:

the pet becomes restless, refuses to eat, does not want to play.

If a bacterial infection accompanies an ear mite infestation and inflammation spreads to the middle and inner ear, the cat develops additional symptoms :

• pus appears in the ear and an unpleasant smell comes from it;
• the lower hairs of the auricle are glued together due to the ingress of purulent outflows on them;
• the pet tries to walk with its head tilted to the side;
• there is an increase in the body temperature of the animal;
• becomes noticeable complete or partial hearing loss;
• in the most severe cases, convulsions begin – this indicates that the lining of the brain is already inflamed.

It is important to note that otodectosis can manifest itself in different ways. In some cats, this mite-caused disease is asymptomatic for a long time. Some animals scratch their ears intensively due to severe itching, but on examination they have a small amount of discharge.

In any case, if a cat scratches and shakes its head from time to time, this is already a reason to go to a veterinary clinic to check for ear mites.

What is the danger of ear mites for a cat?

Staphylococcus, fungi and other types of infection get into the skin damaged by mites, edema and suppuration begin, and an ear plug forms. Because of this, the tympanic membrane can become inflamed and ruptured, and otitis media – go to the middle, and then the inner ear. As complications develop, the cat begins to lose hearing, as well as the ability to sleep and eat normally.

After the inner ear, the inflammation can move to the lining of the brain, which will cause death for a pet. Therefore, it is extremely important to diagnose ear mites as early as possible and start treatment.

Disease diagnosis

In order to accurately determine whether a cat has otodectosis, you need to contact your veterinarian.

First, ear mites are not the only possible cause of inflammation of the outer ear. Similar symptoms can be caused by flea allergy dermatitis, bacterial infections, yeast, head lice, and parasites other than Otodektes cynotys. And these diseases require different treatment.

Secondly, adult mites are less than a millimeter in size and are not visible to the naked eye. To diagnose otodectosis, the veterinarian takes a scraping of the cat’s ear discharge and examines it under a microscope. In addition, if an infection has joined, additional tests may be needed to properly prescribe drugs.

But in cases where it is impossible to get to a doctor, there is a home method to check if the animal has picked up an ear tick.

To do this, you need to find black paper and a magnifying glass. Run a rolled cotton pad along the inside of the cat’s ear and wipe the collected secretions onto a piece of paper. Look at them through a magnifying glass: if you see a moving white dot, it’s an ear mite.

But after such a diagnosis, it is still better to take the cat to the veterinary clinic.

Treatment of otodectosis

Treatment of ear scabies includes a whole range of activities: cleaning the ears, the use of drugs against ticks and external treatment against parasites, as well as strengthening the immune system.

Ear cleaning . Before starting treatment, you need to prepare the skin for applying medicines: manually clean the cat’s ear from sulfur, purulent discharge and crusts. To do this, use a cotton swab dipped in a special lotion for cleaning the ears.

Dewormers . After cleansing, the amount of antiparasitic drops prescribed by the doctor is instilled into each ear of the cat, an acaricidal powder is blown in, or a special ointment is applied against ticks. Treatment with drugs against ticks occurs in several stages, the breaks between which range from several days to a week.

Wool and surface treatment . The tick migrates easily and can end up on the back or even on the tail of the cat, so along with the treatment of the ears, it is important to treat the entire body of the pet with anti-parasite preparations. To do this, you can apply drops on the withers or a special spray, and for some time after application, make sure that the cat does not lick the fur. In addition, the floors and objects in the dwelling are treated with the help of special means from ticks.

Strengthening the immune system . To improve the functioning of the pet’s immune system and speed up recovery, the cat needs a varied diet with plenty of protein and vitamins. For the same purposes, the doctor may include a vitamin complex or preparations for immunocorrection in the treatment program.

In addition to these measures, antihistamines are used in the treatment of otodectosis, which help reduce itching.

If the disease is advanced, the veterinarian may give the cat injections of anti-parasite drugs, antibiotics, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and sometimes novocaine blockade to relieve pain. In addition, with a severe course of the disease, treatment begins with the cleansing of the ears from the accumulated debris surgically using anesthesia.

When the pet recovers, it is advisable to take him to the doctor again and take tests for the presence of a tick in order to exclude the recurrence of otodectosis.

Cat ear mites

To treat mites, your veterinarian will give your cat medications in the form of drops, ointments, powders, sprays, or injections. The safest and easiest to apply are drops and sprays.

Of the ear drops in the treatment of otodectosis in clinics, the following drugs are most often prescribed:

Amitrazine	Low-toxic drug against ticks with antifungal and antimicrobial action. 0.5 ml is instilled into each ear and requires 2 to 5 procedures with a break of 3-7 days.
Otoferonol Gold	An anti-parasite drug with a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Used once a week at a dosage of 3 drops in each ear, the procedure is repeated twice or thrice.
Decta	Drops from a tick, which also includes the antibiotic levomycetin and wound healing propolis. 3-5 drops are instilled into both ears once every 3-5 days, in total the treatment is carried out twice or thrice.
Tzipam	Highly effective insect acaricide. 3-6 drops are instilled into both ears, after 4-5 days the procedure is repeated again.
Bars	Tick remedy, which is instilled 4 drops in each ear once a week for 2-3 weeks. Treatment with Bars is contraindicated in case of damage to the eardrum.

Among tick ointments, the most popular are Amidel and Aversectin ointment. Both preparations are applied inside the cat’s auricle once a week with a repetition of treatment 2-4 times. And from powders for fighting ticks, the appointment of Phenothiazine is possible.

Important to know: many parasite medications are contraindicated for pregnant cats and kittens under one and sometimes two months of age.

Along with the treatment of the ears, drops on the withers are used for otodectosis. For example, drugs based on selamectin, which must be applied twice with a break of a month, or fluralaner, a single application of which is enough to suppress the growth of ear mites. Also, sprays such as Cyodrin or Frontline can be used to treat the cat’s torso from parasites.

If there is a need for systemic treatment of an ear mite infection, the doctor may suggest using Ivermectin injections – 2 doses half a month apart. But the same drug, depending on the condition of the cat, is sometimes used orally (once a week for three weeks) or topically (0.5 ml of a 0.01% solution in each ear, repeating the procedure after half a month).

To increase immunity, some animals infected with ticks are prescribed a course of Gamavit or Tentravit.

It is extremely difficult to choose the form of release of the drug, the specific drug, dosage and treatment regimen for otodectosis on your own. This should be done by a veterinarian, as only a specialist can take into account all factors, including the age and weight of the cat, its general condition, the degree of mite infestation and the presence of contraindications.

Treatment at home

In order for the treatment of otodectosis at home to be effective, you need to follow the doctor’s prescription, as well as a few simple recommendations:

• isolate the sick cat from other animals;
• when in contact with your pet during treatment, wear gloves;
• clean the cat’s ears from plaque every day;
• use a special protective collar for the pet to avoid licking of the drug and re-infection of wounds;
• provide the animal with rest, nutritious food and access to fresh air;
• be sure to treat the cat’s bed with an acaricidal agent;
• Moist clean with an anti-parasite to eliminate mites left on floors, furniture and other items;
• Treat all pets in the household with tick medication, even if other pets do not show symptoms of otodectosis.

If we talk about folk methods of treating ear mites, they can be used as a prophylaxis of otodectosis or as an addition to doctor’s prescriptions.

For example, many cat owners use vegetable oils, including olive, sunflower and almond, to clean the auricle. They do a good job of softening up the crusts. But it is important to wipe the ear of the oil before applying the drops so that it does not interfere with the penetration of drugs into the skin.

Weak hydrogen peroxide is used for the same purpose. It can moisten scabs and clean and disinfect the cartilage surface. But it should be remembered that it should not be instilled into the ears.

Another effective home remedy is antiseptic green tea. It can be both wiped on the outer ear in preparation for applying drops from ticks, and used to prevent otodectosis on a regular basis.

But among the widely recommended folk remedies, there are those that are strictly forbidden to be used in the treatment of ear mites in cats. Garlic, celandine, alcohol-based products – all this will not only not kill parasites, but also increase inflammation, irritating already damaged skin.

How to clean the ears of a cat

To treat the ears of a pet with a tick, you will need a special ear cleaning lotion or hydrogen peroxide, green tea leaves or one of the vegetable oils. Also prepare cotton pads or pieces of bandage and put on medical gloves.

At the stage of cleansing , you need to moisten a cotton sponge in the product and wipe the ear with it – soften the scabs and remove the discharge. It is important not to go deep into the auditory canal: this can injure the cat’s ear, contribute to the formation of a cork and infection in the middle ear. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use ear sticks.

At the stage of treatment , it is necessary to apply an anti-tick agent on the cleansed skin on the inner surface of the auricle according to the dosage prescribed by the veterinarian. At the same time, if you use drops, it is important to avoid getting the drug into the ear canal.

In order for the medicine to lubricate the whole ear, you need to bend it in half and massage it a little. Hold the cat’s head for a few minutes to prevent the medication from escaping due to head shaking.

In order to prevent the animal from combing the ears and licking off the preparation, a collar can be put on the cat after the treatment for ticks.

How long does it take to treat ear mites

The duration of treatment with anti-mites depends on how severely the animal is infested with parasites, whether there are complications and concomitant diseases. It also matters how strong immunity a cat has.

Otodectosis at the initial stage, not complicated by secondary infection and deeper inflammation, can be cured in 2-3 weeks. If the disease is running, it will take months for the cat to fully recover.

Even with the mildest course of the disease, it is difficult to remove ear scabies in a week due to the characteristics of the life cycle of mites and the action of drugs. As a rule, acaricidal preparations kill adults, but are ineffective against eggs of parasites. To completely destroy ticks, you need to let all the eggs hatch, so the treatment regimen is always prescribed in several stages with interruptions.

Prevention

The good news is that it is often possible to avoid infecting your pet with ear mites. There are two types of simple preventive measures that can help.

First, get in the habit of thoroughly cleaning your pet’s ears and drying them well after bathing.

Second, it is important to check your cat’s ears regularly and if redness, scratching, scabs or strange discharge is found, take your furry friend to the vet right away.

Thirdly, it is necessary to ensure that the cat does not communicate with unfamiliar animals, especially stray ones.

Fourthly, to resist ear mites, a pet needs good immunity. A balanced diet, which includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals, will help strengthen it.

Fifth, it is important to regularly treat the cat against ticks, keep the house clean and use acaricides to clean and treat the cat’s things. There are special sprays for this.

Such prophylaxis against ear mites is especially necessary for animals that live in private homes and are accustomed to go outside freely, as well as show cats.

Are ear mites in cats transmitted to humans?

Cat owners can rest easy: although humans can carry these parasites, ear mites are not harmful to humans.

After contact with a sick animal, dermatitis may appear – a small rash from tick bites, but this does not require special treatment. Since Otodektes cynotys does not parasitize humans, the unpleasant symptom will pass as the pet recovers.

But it is important to remember that ear mites are highly contagious to pets. If there are several animals in the house, for example, two cats and a dog, and otodectosis is found in one of them, preventive treatment against ticks should be carried out for all pets.