Sulfur is designed to protect the cavity of the inner ear 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 impairment. You can help the baby at home or by contacting a doctor. To avoid the recurrence of the problem, it is necessary to find out the causes of its occurrence.
Why is earwax needed?
The human ear is so arranged that sulfur is constantly produced in it. The substance is a substance consisting of dead cells of the epidermis, lining the internal auditory canal, and secretion, which is secreted by the sulfur 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 independently. If the process is disrupted, sulfur begins to accumulate and condense. This leads to the formation of plugs, which cause not only unpleasant sensations, but can also provoke the development of the inflammatory process.
Causes of sulfur plugs
Dense accumulations of sulfur in the ear canal most often occur in children. The reason usually lies in the improper hygiene of the ear canal. After all, most parents use cotton swabs for this, which do not cleanse, but rather push the sulfur inward, forming sulfur plugs in the ears.
In children, 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 such a problem, you must first contact an otolaryngologist who will select the best option for cleansing the ear canal. To avoid the reappearance of sulfur accumulations in a child, it is important to exclude the following provoking factors:
- hypersecretion of the glands can cause the formation of sulfur plugs against the background of excessive hygiene of the ear canals;
- Too dry air in the room where the child is located can also cause sulfur to tighten in the ears;
- water entering the ear canal;
- frequent otitis media is another cause of the pathological phenomenon;
- some skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema) can cause increased secretion of glands in the ear canal.
Sulfur plugs in children often arise 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 will simply need to pay more attention to hygiene procedures.
In adolescence, the occurrence of plugs is often associated with prolonged wearing of headphones, which 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, attention should be paid to the condition of the child. A common cause of hearing loss is precisely sulfur plug. In children, this may not cause discomfort, but adults should pay attention to the fact that the child asks again or does not respond to treatment.
A sharp deterioration in hearing is observed when water enters the ear canal. When exposed to moisture, 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 interrupts the functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
The child has a sulfur plug: what to do?
Only a specialist can detect sulfur cork, who will determine the method of treatment. One effective way is to rinse the ear canal. The procedure can only be performed by an ENT doctor. For the manipulation, a warm solution of furatsilin is used, which is collected in a syringe (without a needle) and injected into the ear under pressure.
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 wash the sulfuric cork, 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 canals.
Home methods
It should be borne in mind that it is very dangerous to get rid of sulfuric accumulations in the baby’s ears at home and without first consulting a specialist. There is a risk of damage to the eardrum. How to remove sulfur plug from a child and not cause harm? Doctors recommend the use of special drugs that are instilled into the ear canal. It is forbidden to use mechanical methods for extracting sulfur plugs!
Another safe way is to instill hydrogen peroxide. Only 3% solution should be taken for the procedure. A higher concentration of the agent can cause burns to the skin of the auditory canal.
You can save a child from sulfuric cork with a special ear candle. For its manufacture, only natural components with a pronounced therapeutic effect are used: propolis, beeswax, essential oils and herbal decoctions. Such a candle has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, warming and warming properties. Using candles creates optimal conditions for melting dense sulfur mass.
Before you remove the sulfur plug from the child’s ear with a candle, you need to get an ENT consultation. For children produce candles of smaller diameter. Use them is only in the absence of contraindications.
How to apply phyto candles?
Adhering to certain rules, you can save the child from sulfuric plugs in the ears in several procedures. Having prepared two candles, a napkin, a baby cream, a glass of water, cotton turunds and matches, you can begin the procedure. A certain sequence of manipulations should be followed:
- Lubricate the baby’s auricle with baby cream.
- Lay the child on its side so that the sore ear is on top, and put a small pillow under the head.
- Put a napkin on your head so that the slot in it coincides with the 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 to the mark, it must be extinguished in a glass of water.
- Using cotton swabs moistened with an alcohol solution, it is necessary to remove the spilled sulfur.
- In the ear canal lay cotton for 15-20 minutes.
After the procedure, do not go outside for several hours. It is recommended to carry out manipulation at night.
Sulfur plug removal preparations
Medicines that can dissolve sulfur in the ears are called cerumenolytics. Drugs in this category are available on a water and oil basis. Removing sulfuric plugs in a child with their help is considered the safest and most effective method.
The following agents can be used to treat a pathological phenomenon:
- “Aqua Maris Oto”;
- A-Tserumen;
- "Vaxol";
- “Cerustop”;
- Remo-Wax.
These drugs have proven themselves exclusively on the good side and are often used in otolaryngology. However, remove sulfur plugs in children with their help should only be after the appointment of a doctor.
The drug "A-Tserumen"
The product belongs to the category of water-based cerumenolytics and effectively fights against sulfur accumulations in the ear canals. For children, drops can be used from 2.5 years. The pharmacological product is used to cleanse the ear canals of sulfur and sulfur plugs. The components that make up the drug dissolve dense accumulations of sulfur and contribute to their removal to the outside.
The product is released in small plastic droppers, a volume of 2 ml. In one package there are 5 such bottles. Drops are instilled in the ear of the child, which should be in the supine position. After a minute, the child should tilt his head so that the sore ear is below. This is necessary so that residual sulfur can escape from the ear canal. The procedure is repeated for another 5 days.
The effectiveness of Remo-Vax
Normally, sulfur 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 suggests that the natural process of self-cleaning is impaired. An effective multicomponent Remo-Vax product intended for hygiene of the ear passages will help to cope with the problem.
How to remove sulfuric plug in a child with this drug? For children, the drug is released in the form of drops. The drug is allowed to be used to cleanse sulfur accumulations even in babies up to 1 year old. Previously, the drug is warmed to room temperature. You can do this by simply holding the plastic bottle in your hand for several minutes.
Instructions for use
Dissolving sulfur plugs in children using Remo-Vax is quite simple. The child should be placed on its side and instilled the medicine so that its level reaches the transition of the ear canal into the conch. The drug should be in the ear for at least 20 minutes. After this, 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 remnants of the product and ear wax 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 caps several times a month.
Contraindications
Drugs to eliminate sulfuric accumulations in the ears in children are not used in case of damage to the eardrum or with 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 there is pain in the ear during the use of the drug, its further use should be abandoned.