Many of us grew up using cotton swabs to clean water and earwax out of our ears without ever giving it a second thought.
Turns out maybe we should have, reports JoAnne Viviano of The Columbus Dispatch.
Ms. Viviano writes:
Injuries such as [perforated eardrums] are common, according to a new study that shows an average of 34 children visit emergency departments every day with ear injuries caused by cotton swabs.
In 73 percent of cases, children or caregivers were attempting to clean their ears with swabs, a practice that doctors say is dangerous.
Although, if you’ve used cotton swabs to clean your (or your children’s) ears, don't feel too badly.
You’re hardly alone.
As Ms. Viviano notes in her piece:
There is a misconception that cotton swabs are the perfect tool for cleaning the ear canal, said Dr. Kris Jatana, ... an otolaryngologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“We see several patients a day in my clinic alone that clean their ears in the home setting and use cotton-tip applicators to do so,” said Jatana ...
In fact, according to the article, earwax isn’t necessarily something that should be cleared away:
Dr. Erika Kube, an emergency physician who works for Mid-Ohio Emergency Services and OhioHealth, said parents should leave ear wax alone.
“Ear wax is normal and is supposed to be in your ear,” she said. “It serves an antimicrobial purpose and helps to keep the ear canal dry, so it’s not harmful.”
Read the full story here.
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