Ear Wax

Question 1

Symptoms

Answer 1

Hearing loss

Earache or feeling of ears being blocked or full

Ringing or buzzing in your ears

Vertigo eg. feeling dizzy and sick

Question 2

Red flags

Answer 2

Abnormal appearance of outer ear such as inflammation

Discharge other than wax from ear, that’s has not resolve or responds to treatment or recurs

** Search more red flags **

Question 3

Questions to ask patients?

Answer 3

• Is there any difficulty breathing?
• Any ear pain?
• Is there an itching sensation in the ear?
• Have you been experiencing any dizziness?
• Any discharge from ear?
• Does anything make the symptoms worse?
• Anything that triggers the symptoms?
• Drug history
• Past medical history

Question 4

Treatment?

Answer 4

Olive oil ear drops:
- Care extra cerumol
- Earex Oreo olive oil
2-3 drops of room temperature oil in the ear, up to 2 times a day for 7 days ONLY. Tilt head before use to ensure the oil remains in ear, keep drops in ear for around 5 minutes before removal.

Urea hydrogen peroxide drops:
- Otex
Up to 5 drops, twice daily. Tilt head before use. Keep drops for 5 minutes before removing.

Sodium bicarbonate drops:
- Otex sodium bicarbonate care
3-4 drops into affected ear, twice a days.
Tilt head before use, keep drops in ear for around 5 minutes before removal

Question 5

Any general inclusion / exclusion criteria? General caution?

Answer 5

For children between 1-5 years, they should receive a diagnosis before use

Don’t use for more than 7 days