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Earwax - Management
How do I manage someone with recurrent earwax?
- Decide on the most appropriate treatment taking into account the person's wishes, previous successful treatment, and any contraindications. Treatment options include: ear drops, irrigation, or referral for manual removal of earwax. See How to remove earwax.
- To prevent wax becoming impacted advise the person that regular use of ear drops may be helpful.
- Explain that there is no evidence to suggest the best type of ear drops or how frequently they should be used.
- Experts suggest using either sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, olive or almond oil ear drops. The suggested frequency of use varied from daily to once a fortnight.
- It is not known if such treatment is effective and the person may need to return for repeat wax removal.
Basis for recommendation
- The basis for this recommendation is pragmatic advice.
- CKS found no evidence or guidelines for preventing ear wax impaction and there was no consensus of opinion amongst expert reviewers. Advice from expert reviewers ranged from instilling ear drops (sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, olive or almond oil) every day to once every two weeks.
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