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I Accidentally Shoved A Qtip In My Right Ear Canal
Question: I accidentally shoved a qtip in my right ear canal a bit too deep 5 days ago. Since then my ear is blocked, for the past two days it was better but today i woke up with my ear Almost completely blocked. I can clear and loud sounds but low sounds are not reaching my hearing. I used antifungal drops earlier which i haven't done for the last two days. Sometimes my head and temple on the same side ache as well, just like right now.
Brief Answer:
Most commonly ear wax, sometimes infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The most common cause for this is earwax being pushed deeper into the external ear canal by the q-tip.
2. Ear wax is hygroscopic, hence it will absorb the ear drops and swell up, causing pressure on the deeper bony walls of the external ear canal where there is no scope for expansion (unlike the outer external ear canal which is made up of flexible cartilage) and cause mild ear pain and headaches..
3. Sometimes mild infections can add to this due to minor abrasions of the delicate skin of the external ear canal caused by the q-tip.
4. Ideally, you should visit a local ENT Specialist and get the ear examined directly. Sometimes use of anti-fungal ear drops itself causes irritation of a relatively empty external ear canal. Direct examination takes a few seconds to accurately recognise the exact problem. The ear can also be cleaned and hearing can be checked.
5. If visiting an ENT doctor is not possible, you may try OTC (Over The Counter) ear wax softening drops for a few days. If the pain and blockage settles down, you can wait. This is an extremely common situation.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Most commonly ear wax, sometimes infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The most common cause for this is earwax being pushed deeper into the external ear canal by the q-tip.
2. Ear wax is hygroscopic, hence it will absorb the ear drops and swell up, causing pressure on the deeper bony walls of the external ear canal where there is no scope for expansion (unlike the outer external ear canal which is made up of flexible cartilage) and cause mild ear pain and headaches..
3. Sometimes mild infections can add to this due to minor abrasions of the delicate skin of the external ear canal caused by the q-tip.
4. Ideally, you should visit a local ENT Specialist and get the ear examined directly. Sometimes use of anti-fungal ear drops itself causes irritation of a relatively empty external ear canal. Direct examination takes a few seconds to accurately recognise the exact problem. The ear can also be cleaned and hearing can be checked.
5. If visiting an ENT doctor is not possible, you may try OTC (Over The Counter) ear wax softening drops for a few days. If the pain and blockage settles down, you can wait. This is an extremely common situation.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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