About this topic
Cerumen is a yellow wax that is made by glands in your ear canal. It is also known as earwax. It moves out of your ear naturally and protects your ear from infection. An impaction is when earwax is wedged in the canal and blocks it. ‚
What care is needed at home?
Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do. ‚
Try a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, or glycerin in the ear once or twice a week. It may help to soften the wax and keep earwax from building up. ‚
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. The doctor will look at your ears to check for wax impaction. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to soften wax. Ask your doctor before using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Short-term hearing loss. Hearing returns after blockage is removed.
- Infection in the outer ear
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Clean your ear with a warm soapy wash cloth. Only wash the outer ear.
- Do not use cotton swabs or other things to clean your ears. This can push wax further into your ear canal.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
- Hearing loss that does not go away
- Very bad ear pain and drainage from the ear
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
- Dry your ears well after swimming.
- Do not use ear candles to treat or remove earwax.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you ways to help soften earwax and keep it from building up in the future.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, hearing loss, ear pain, or drainage from my ear.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Otolaryngology ¢ ˆ ’ Head and Neck Surgery ‚
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/earwax.cfm ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚