How to remove a sulfur plug from the ear of a child and an adult
Partial hearing loss, ear plugging and itching in the external auditory canal may indicate the presence of a sulfur plug in it. In itself, this condition is not dangerous, but the problem needs to be solved. Removal of sulfur plug from the ear can be done in the ENT doctor's office or independently at home.
Symptoms of sulfur plug in the ear
The first sign of the appearance of a sulfur plug is the retention of water in the external auditory canal. If it is passable, then the water should flow freely, and the sulfur plug prevents this - even taking a shower ends with long attempts to remove water from the ear. A sulfur plug can be seen with the naked eye - it looks like a small lump of gray-yellow mass located on the wall of the external auditory canal. The following symptoms of sulfur plug in the ear are distinguished:
- severe itching;
- partial hearing loss - there are complaints of a feeling of ear plugging, the sound does not penetrate completely and seems muffled;
- unpleasant sensations of pressure and the presence of a foreign body.
Knowing how to remove a sulfur plug from the ear of a child and an adult, the procedure can be performed independently. This is dangerous when the cork is located close to the eardrum - with careless movement, it can be damaged, and then there will be hearing impairment, even its complete loss. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor.
Methods of sulfur crust removal
At home, it is easiest to use a solution of hydrogen peroxide, which softens the sulfur plug. If the procedure needs to be carried out by the child, then during it he must follow all the instructions of the parents.
How to get rid of sulfur crust using hydrogen peroxide:
- it is necessary to lie on your side in such a way that the problem ear is in the access zone;
- 3-5 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution are sprinkled into it;
- remain in this position for 10-15 minutes;
- if necessary, repeat the procedure for the other ear.
If the sulfur plug has a soft consistency and small size, it should dissolve and come out of the ear within 8-10 hours. The first signs of a positive effect from the procedure will be an improvement in hearing, a decrease in the intensity of itching and the discharge of gray-yellow liquid from the ear.
Hydrogen peroxide to remove ear sulfur plugs can be used for several days in a row until the plug is completely removed. But if there is no improvement after the first procedure, you should contact a specialist.
Another option for independent removal of sulfur plugs from the ears is the use of special medicines. They have the ability to quickly dissolve even dry sulfur formations, which contributes to their removal 4-6 hours after the procedure. Drops from sulfur plugs for adults can be used without a prior visit to a specialist, but in case of a problem in a child, it will be necessary to consult an ENT doctor.
As for the methods of solving the problem in hospital conditions, ear washing is most often used here. How to wash the ear from a sulfur plug and at the same time not damage the eardrum? You should first soften the sulfur lump with hydrogen peroxide, and then direct a jet of warm water from the Jeanette syringe along the wall of the external auditory canal - the plug will come out together with the water that will pour out of the auditory canal. This procedure seems simple only at first glance! You should not conduct it at home, especially for a child - water can push a sulfur plug deep into the ear canal or injure the eardrum.
On the pages of our site Dobrobut.com you will find information on how to remove a sulfur plug from the ear at home. If necessary, you can immediately make an appointment with a doctor.
Doctors categorically do not advise trying to pull out the plug with ear cotton buds - during such a procedure, you can push the accumulated sulfur deep into the ear canal, closer to the eardrum. When the skin is damaged, infection and the development of an inflammatory process are possible, and then it will be necessary to undergo a course of treatment in a hospital, and in complicated cases to resort to surgical intervention.
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