Sulfur is designed to protect the inner ear cavity from the penetration of various pollutants and bacteria. In case of failures in the process of its removal, sulfur plugs are formed. In children, this phenomenon is common and causes hearing loss. You can help the baby at home or by contacting a doctor. To avoid a reoccurrence of the problem, it is necessary to find out the causes of its occurrence.
Why do I need earwax?
The human ear is so arranged that sulfur is produced in it constantly. The substance is a substance consisting of dead cells of the epidermis lining the internal auditory canal, and a secret that is secreted by the sulfuric and sebaceous glands. The main purpose of earwax is to protect the ear canal from bacteria, fungi, viruses, foreign particles and dust.
Normally, it is displayed on its own. If the process is disturbed, sulfur begins to accumulate and condense. This leads to the formation of traffic jams, which cause not only discomfort, but can alsoprovoke the development of the inflammatory process.
Causes of sulfur plugs
Dense accumulations of wax in the ear canal most often occur in children. The reason usually lies in improper hygiene of the ear canal. After all, most parents use cotton swabs for this, which do not clean, but rather push the wax inward, forming wax plugs in the ears.
In children, the cork has a dense texture and a light brown color. Do not try to get it yourself, using improvised means. It can only harm the baby. With a similar problem, you must first contact an otolaryngologist, who will select the best option for cleaning the ear canal. To avoid the recurrence of wax accumulations in a child, it is important to exclude the following provoking factors:
- cause the formation of sulfur plugs can hypersecretion of the glands against the background of excessive hygiene of the ear canals;
- too dry air in the room where the child is, can also cause wax in the ears;
- water entering the ear canal;
- frequent otitis is another cause of the pathological phenomenon;
- certain skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema) can cause increased secretion of glands in the ear canal.
Sulfur plugs in children often occur due to the anatomical features of the structure of the auditory canal. This is not a pathology and does not require treatment. In this case, you just need to pay more attention to hygiene procedures.
During adolescence, traffic jams are often associated withprolonged wearing of headphones that interfere with the natural self-cleaning of the auditory canal.
Symptoms
At the initial stage, it is impossible to independently identify the process of cork formation. However, you should pay attention to the condition of the child. Sulfur plug is a common cause of hearing loss. This may not cause discomfort in children, but adults should pay attention to the fact that the child asks again or does not respond to the appeal.
A sharp deterioration in hearing is observed when water enters the ear canal. When exposed to moisture, the sulfur accumulation begins to increase and completely blocks the passage. The child may complain of causeless headaches, tinnitus, nausea. This suggests that the sulfur plug disrupts the functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
Child has a wax plug: what to do?
Only a specialist can detect a sulfur plug, who will determine the method of treatment. One of the effective ways is to wash the ear canal. The procedure can only be performed by an ENT doctor. To carry out the manipulation, a warm solution of furacilin is used, which is drawn into a syringe (without a needle) and injected under pressure into the ear.
During the procedure, the ear canal must be aligned. To do this, it is necessary to pull the auricle back and down if washing is done for babies, and back and up - if the procedure is indicated for older children. To completely rinse the sulfur plug, the child will need to visit a specialist's office several times. In some cases,when the accumulation of sulfur is very dense, doctors recommend pre-softening the cork with hydrogen peroxide, which is instilled in a few drops into the ear passages.
Home Methods
It should be borne in mind that getting rid of sulfur accumulations in the ears of a baby at home and without prior consultation with a specialist is very dangerous. There is a risk of damage to the eardrum. How to remove a sulfur plug from a child and not cause harm? Doctors recommend using special preparations that are instilled into the ear canal. It is forbidden to use mechanical methods to remove sulfur plugs!
Another safer way is to instill hydrogen peroxide. For the procedure, only a 3% solution should be taken. A higher concentration of the product may cause a burn of the skin of the auditory canal.
You can save a child from a sulfur plug using a special ear candle. For its manufacture, only natural ingredients are used that have a pronounced therapeutic effect: propolis, beeswax, essential oils and decoctions of medicinal herbs. Such a candle has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming and warming properties. When using a candle, optimal conditions are created for melting a dense sulfur mass.
Before you remove the sulfur plug from the child's ear with a candle, you need to get an ENT consultation. Smaller diameter candles are produced for children. They should be used only if there are no contraindications.
How to applyphytocandles?
Adhering to certain rules, it is possible to save a child from cerumen plugs in the ears in a few procedures. Having prepared two candles, a napkin, baby cream, a glass of water, cotton turundas and matches, you can proceed to the procedure. A certain sequence of manipulations should be followed:
- Lubricate the baby's ear with baby cream.
- Lay the child on its side so that the affected ear is on top, and put a small pillow under the head.
- Put a tissue on your head so that the slit in it matches your ear hole.
- The narrow end of the candle is inserted into the ear, and from the wide side it is set on fire.
- After the candle burns down to the mark, it must be extinguished in a glass of water.
- Using cotton turundas soaked in an alcohol solution, it is necessary to remove the leaked sulfur.
- Place cotton wool in the ear canal for 15-20 minutes.
After the procedure, do not go outside for several hours. It is recommended to carry out the manipulation at night.
Preparations for removing sulfur plugs
Drugs that are able to dissolve sulfur accumulations in the ears are called cerumenolytics. Preparations of this category are produced on a water and oil basis. Removing a sulfur plug from a child with their help is considered the safest and most effective method.
The following remedies can be used to treat a pathological phenomenon:
- "Aqua Maris Oto";
- "A-Cerumen";
- "Vaxol";
- Cerustop;
- Remo Wax.
The listed drugs have proven themselves exclusively on the good side and are often used in otolaryngology. However, sulfur plugs in children should be removed with their help only after a doctor's prescription.
A-Cerumen
The tool belongs to the category of water-based cerumenolytics and effectively fights sulfur accumulations in the ear canals. For children, drops can be used from 2.5 years. A pharmacological product is used to cleanse the ear canals from sulfur and sulfur plugs. The components that make up the medicine dissolve dense accumulations of sulfur and contribute to their removal.
The product is produced in small plastic droppers, 2 ml. There are 5 such bottles in one package. Drops are instilled into the ear of the child, who should be in the supine position on his side. After a minute, the child should tilt his head so that the affected ear is at the bottom. This is necessary so that the remaining sulfur can flow out of the ear canal. The procedure is repeated for another 5 days.
The effectiveness of Remo-Vax
Normally, wax is gradually removed from the ear canal on its own. In the process of chewing and talking, she should move to the external auditory opening. The formation of sulfur plugs indicates that the natural process of self-purification is disturbed. An effective multi-component remedy "Remo-Vax", designed for hygiene of the ear canals, will help to cope with the problem.
How to remove a wax plug in a child with this drug? For children, the product is released in the form of drops. The drug is allowed to be used to cleanse sulfur accumulations even in babies under 1 year old. Pre-drug is heated to room temperature. You can do this by simply holding the plastic vial in your hand for a few minutes.
Instructions for use
Dissolving sulfur plugs in children with Remo-Vax is quite simple. The child should be put on its side and the medicine should be dripped so that its level reaches the transition of the ear canal into the shell. The drug must be in the ear for at least 20 minutes. After that, the child should stand up and tilt his head to the other side. It is advisable to do this over a container or sink. The remaining product and earwax will gradually flow out.
After using Remo-Vax oil solution, rinse the ear canal with warm water. The drug can be used to prevent the formation of sulfur plugs several times a month.
Contraindications
Drugs to eliminate sulfur accumulations in the ears in children are not used in case of damage to the eardrum or in the development of purulent processes. You should pay attention to the components in the composition of cerumenolytics in order to prevent the development of an allergic reaction. If you experience pain in the ear during the use of the medicine, you should stop using it further.
