Prevalence of ear cleaning and its characteristic physical findings in patients visiting tertiary care center in Bhutan

Abstract

Introduction: Many studies have been done on prevalence and complications of ear bud across the globe but very few talk about the characteristics physical findings associated with ear cleaning. We aim to find the prevalence and characteristic physical findings of cotton bud usage in patients visiting a tertiary care center in Bhutan. Methods: A cross sectional study in a tertiary care center in Bhutan over a period of one month. Results: The prevalence of ear cleaning was 92.15%. The most common physical finding was shiny external auditory canal (66%), excoriations in the external auditory canal (longitudinal furrowing along the floor or Circular scratch marks)(52%), erythema and edema of ear canal (46.6%), wax in the bony canal near tympanic membrane(9.3%), stenosed external auditory canal (3.8%), cotton wool remnants in ear canal(2.8%). Conclusions: It is important to recognize these characteristic clinical findings of cleaning the ear so that proper counseling can be given against its usage and prevent undue complications associated with it.