2022 Volume 68 Issue 4 Pages 227-234
Cerumenolytic solutions that induce the dissolution of cerumen can remove cerumen without damaging the skin of the ear canal or eardrum. In this study, we conducted a preliminary prospective study to investigate whether or not using a cerumenolytic solution that induces the dissolution of cerumen regularly can prevent the accumulation of cerumen. After having cerumen removed by doctor, patients applied cerumenolytic solution to their ear canal using cotton swabs by themselves regularly. We then assessed the degree of cerumen impaction and the presence of symptoms after four weeks and three months. We investigated 33 subjects (65 ears). In the cerumenolytic solution group, the average score of cerumen impaction before removing cerumen was 1.9, and the accumulation of cerumen was able to be avoided for 4 weeks (0.5) and 3 months (0.0) compared to the control group (1.6 → 1.4). Furthermore, 51.5% of the patients in the cerumenolytic solution group had some symptoms, but the frequency decreased to 9.1% after the application of cerumenolytic solution; the symptoms involved itching of the ear in 76.5% of symptomatic patients. These results suggest that the application of cerumenolytic solution that induces dissolution of cerumen using a cotton swab can safely prevent the accumulation of cerumen.
