Earwax formation in children is normal, but when is this formation inside the ear abnormal and needs medical intervention? And how might it be stopped?
The glands in the ear canals secrete earwax in children, which has an important function in protecting the ear, which parents may have to remove in some cases. For more information, continue reading:
How is earwax formed in children?
Children's outer ear canals—more specifically, the space between the middle ear and the fleshy portion of the ear located on the outside of the head—are where earwax develops.
When you speak or chew, the ear canals move continuously, pushing the wax outwards. Wax is created by glands in the ear canals that continuously regenerate their inner membranes.
It is colourless and soft to the touch when it first begins to form inside the ear canals, but it solidifies and turns a yellowish to brown colour as it moves to the ear.
The importance of earwax in children
Earwax is significant for a number of reasons, the most significant of which are as follows:
- insulating the ear membranes from water and shielding them from contaminants that could infect the ear.
- picking up dirt, dust, and other debris that could lead to ear cuts or eardrum irritation.
Causes of earwax buildup in children
The following are the most significant causes of earwax buildup inside the ear, in order of importance:
- Cotton swabs: Cotton swabs usually cause a buildup of wax, due to the force of their thrust that pushes the wax back up again.
- Fingers: 5% of babies produce more wax than others, but the wax will come out naturally unless pushed in with their fingers.
- Earplugs: Wearing any type of earplug causes wax to build up and back up.
Signs of earwax buildup in children
There are a number of symptoms that earwax buildup is present, including:
- sudden deafness
- Vertigo.
- Tinnitus inside the ear.
- persistent pain
- a tingling or itching sensation in the ear canal.
- the ear feels as though something is inside because the wax buildup makes the interior dry and hard.
- observing a sizable wax fragment in the ear.
Symptoms that require a doctor's review
There are some signs that should be examined by a physician, including:
- ear discharge or blood in the child's ear
- hearing loss.
- Tinnitus .
- the kid's ears feeling overstuffed.
- Hearing discomfort or impairment one week after the child received home treatment.
- the emergence of specific symptoms like motion or balance issues or nausea.
Is earwax removal in children necessary?
It is frequently unnecessary to remove wax from the ear because the glands' production of wax is normally eliminated by the ear.
However, some kids have wax secretion that is greater than normal, resulting in accumulation that blocks the ear, especially when putting cotton swabs or the kid's fingers in his ear.
Even with a device that parents think is child-safe, parents shouldn't clean their kids' ears indoors. Because it may cause harm to the ear canals, or it may damage the child's sense of hearing, or it may lead to more wax being stuck inside the ear, so you should see a doctor to take the appropriate intervention.
However, only the outer part of the ear can be cleaned with a clean cloth without sending any particles into the ear if parents notice that the child is complaining about his ear or if wax is visible inside the ear.
How to remove hardened earwax in children
Some kids develop hardened wax, which can be reduced by applying the following procedures while being under a doctor's supervision, using two to four drops of olive oil or one of the mineral oils:
- Warm the oil until it reaches a temperature similar to skin temperature.
- Use a dropper to put the oil on the affected ear.
- Have the child lie on his back with the ear up.
- Leave the oil in the ear for a few minutes.
- Adjust the child's sitting position, as the ear will get rid of the wax, and the doctor may resort to using special tools or rinsing the ear with warm water to get rid of it if it does not come out on its own.
Preventive tips to reduce earwax in children
You can use the following prevention advice to stop children's ears from developing wax:
- In the ear canal, never use a cotton swab.
- Do not try to extract the wax chunks with toothpicks, matches, or anything else. because doing so forces wax to return to the ear.
- Never frequently use earplugs of any kind.