Medical Ear Piercing

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Cerument (Ear Wax) or is made up of sebum (a body secretion mostly made up of fat), skin cells, sweat and dirt[1]. 

Earwax is produced by the ear to act as a natural cleanser gathering dead skin cells, hair and dirt from the inside of the ear canal to the outward[2]. Typically, ear wax can come in two forms: wet and dry. Wet earwax is more common among Caucasians and African people whereas dry and flaky earwax is more prominent in East Asian or Native American ancestry[1[. 

In some cases, individuals may produce more ear wax than others. Build-up of ear wax may be contributed to[3]:

• Wearing headphones or hearing aid regularly 
• Incorrect cleaning of the ear causing earwax to be pushed further in the ear
• Having narrow or very hair ear canals 
• Working in dirty or dusty places 

A simple ear examination will show whether you have ear wax build-up. However signs and symptoms of ear wax build-up include[4]: 

• A feeling that an object is in the ear (caused by ear wax becoming dry and hard)
• Complete blockage or plugging of the ear canal causing more symptoms such as decreased or muffled hearing
• Rubbing of the ear or poking in the canal
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ear

In most cases, the build-up of wax loosens and falls out by itself without the need for intervention. However, in some cases medical intervention is required. Treatment may include[5]:

• Withdrawal of the wax by a doctor using a suction device or forceps/special hook
• Using an ear syringe to squirt warm water to float out the wax plug
• Using drops to soften the ear wax to help it fall out on its own

If these treatment strategies are not effective or if there is a large amount of hardened wax, referral to an ear specialist should be considered

  
References  

[1] Queensland Health (2019, April) 10 things you never knew about ear wax health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/ear-wax-cerumen-cotton-bud-ear-cleaning 

[2] Harvard Medical School (2018, April) Got an earful? Here’s some advice. health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full

[3] Health Direct (2018, May) Ear wax healthdirect.gov.au/ear-wax

[4] Seattle Children’s (2020, February) Earwax Buildup seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/earwax-buildup/

[5] Better Health Channel (2019, February) Ear wax betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/ear-wax

Labyrinthitis is an inner ear infection causing the labyrinth (the balancing centre) to be inflamed. Generally, labyrinthitis is caused by a viral infection from a cold, the flu or the herpes group of viruses[1]. 

Common symptoms of labyrinthitis include:

• various amounts of hearing loss
• mild headaches
• ear pain
• tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• vertigo
• blurred vision[2] 

Treatment varies depending on the cause. Commonly, labyrinthitis resolves without treatment in a few weeks but if symptoms persist, a vestibular rehabilitation exercises may be required. These exercises involve retraining the brain to interpret the distorted balance messaged from the labyrinth[3]. In addition to this, management of symptoms can include:

• avoiding alcohol
• drinking plenty of water
• avoiding bright lights
• creating a low-noise 
• low-stress environment[1]

References: 

[1] Health Direct (2019, May) Labyrinthitis. healthdirect.gov.au/labyrinthitis 

[2] NHS (2017, February). Labyrinthitis. nhs.uk/conditions/labyrinthitis/

[3] Better Health Channel (2014, November)Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/labyrinthitis-and-vestibular-neuritis

Tinnitus is an annoying, often constant, ‘ringing’ noise in the ears. It may be high pitched and of varying nature, such as ‘rustling, train like, or whistling’. It may result from a side effect of prescribed medication and may be associated with excessive noise, headache, sleeping problems and loss of energy.
Commonest causes of tinnitus include:

• Hearing loss, from noise exposure (e.g. from work machinery, loud music in night clubs, listening to loud music) 
• Aging 
• Head trauma 
• Side effects from prescribed drugs

It can also be due to:

• Ear infection
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Xerostomia (Dry mouth) is a condition characterised by not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet and moisturised. Saliva plays an important role in ensuring bacteria is kept under control in the mouth, aiding in digestion, helping defend against tooth decay and acts as a vehicle in strengthening tooth enamel[1]. Although everyone experiences a dry mouth from time to time, persistent feelings of dry mouth may be a sign of xerostomia. 

Symptoms which persist in this condition include[2]:

• A sticky and dry feeling in the mouth
• Cracked lips
• Bad breath
• Trouble chewing, swallowing or speaking
• More frequent tooth decay
• Gum irritation 

There are a number of factors thought to cause dry mouth such as[3]:

• Prescription medications
• Autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome 
• Chemotherapy in cancer treatment
• Anxiety and stress

Fortunately there are treatments and strategies in place to reduce the discomfort from dry mouth. As dry mouth increases the chances of tooth decay, it is crucial to protect your teeth by visiting the dentist regularly, using a soft toothbrush and mouth rinse and avoiding sugary or acidic foods. Furthermore, staying hydrated and avoiding foods that irritate the mouth have been found to ease the discomfort of dry mouth[4].

References:

[1] Queensland Government – Queensland Health (2008, April) Healthy teeth for life fact sheet. health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/154076/htfl_dry_mouth_v2.pdf 

[2] Colgate. Dry Mouth colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/dry-mouth 

[3] Better Health Victoria (2017, February) Dry Mouth Syndrome betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dry-mouth-syndrome

[4] Health Direct (2018, April) Dry Mouth Syndrome healthdirect.gov.au/dry-mouth-syndrome