Should children have their ears cleaned regularly?

Ask:

I often clean my child's ears, but some people advise against it. Could you please give me more specific advice?

Nguyen Hoang ( Hanoi )

Dr. Vu Thi Thanh Binh, ENT specialist, Vietnam - Russia International General Center answered:

The ear canal, like the skin, has mucus, sweat and earwax, a natural dirt layer formed in the ear canal to protect the eardrum from dirt, insects and bacteria. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove earwax for children because it is a normal physiological reaction.

Parents should be very careful when cleaning their children's ears to avoid damaging the ears, because even removing earwax incorrectly can accidentally push the dirt deeper inside. Some mistakes when parents clean their children's ears need to be changed, such as using cotton swabs, which is the most common mistake. Cotton swabs can push earwax deeper into the ear canal, even scratching or puncturing the eardrum.

Using sharp objects such as hairpins, toothpicks, ear picks, etc. to remove earwax from children's ears can cause serious damage to the ear canal and eardrum. Or cleaning the ears too often can remove the protective layer of earwax, making the child's ears prone to dryness and itching.

Earwax should only be removed if there is too much earwax blocking the ear, causing ear infections or hearing loss. At this point, the child's hearing may be reduced. The feeling of blockage or hearing loss may increase after the child has bathed or swum, as the earwax swells in water.

If the earwax completely covers the eardrum, the child may temporarily lose the ability to hear. For young children who are still learning to speak, leaving earwax in for too long can cause delayed speech.

Parents should take their children to medical facilities to have their earwax removed to avoid causing damage to the child's ear. They should absolutely not have their earwax removed in unprofessional places such as hair salons.

If your child has any signs such as earache, ear discharge, tinnitus, or red and swollen ears, parents should take their child to see a doctor immediately; do not use ear drops or other treatments without a doctor's prescription.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/co-nen-lay-ray-tai-thuong-xuyen-cho-tre-192240527232814306.htm