Association of Dermatological Conditions of External Ear with the Use of Cotton Buds.
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Date
2014-09
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Abstract
Background: The habit of cleaning the external auditory canal with cotton buds is a common
practice of the masses. It has strong association with neurodermatitis and contact dermatitis of the
external ear. It is also associated with acute otitis externa, rupture of tympanic membrane causing
bleeding and temporary hearing loss in some cases. In many cases the injury will heal but damage
to minuscule bones deep inside the ear can cause permanent deafness. Objective: The objective of
this study was to determine the association of dermatological condition of external ear with the use
of cotton buds. Materials and Methods: This case control study was done from January to October
2012 in the Ear Nose Throat Department of Pakistan Level III Hospital, Darfur, Sudan. Sixty
seven patients with dermatological diseases of external ear were cases and 83 subjects without
dermatological diseases of external ear were selected as controls. Results: Among 67 cases, 58
were cotton bud users and among 83 controls only 29 were cotton bud users. Different types of
dermatological diseases were neurodermatitis (34.32%), otitis externa (28.36%), contact
dermatitis (26.87%) and wax impaction (8.95%). Ninety three percent of cotton bud users were
ignorant of harmful effects of this bad habit. Conclusion: There is a strong association of
dermatological diseases of external ear with the use of cotton bud which should be discouraged by
fortifying the warning by manufacturers and health education at various educational levels.
Description
Keywords
Cotton bud use, External ear, Dermatological diseases
Citation
Ahmed Salahuddin, Zaheer Syed Atif Imran, Shabbir Syed Muhammad Asad, Rao Sibghatullah, Islam Tauhidul, Ahmed Bashir. Association of Dermatological Conditions of External Ear with the Use of Cotton Buds. Journal of Enam Medical College. 2014 Sept; 4(3): 174-176.