Cotton bud for the ear? No, please, says Olagbemi
Dr. Derek Olagbemi, ENT Surgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos educates on care of these organs.
What to know about ENT
ENT, goes beyond ear, nose and throat, it also involves head and neck problems as well as cancer that affects the throat.
Generally, the basic thing public need to know is that using cotton buds to clean the ear is very dangerous. Many people are fond of using buds, believing that they are making it clean. The truth is that wax belongs to the ear; problem arises, when there is too much of wax in the ear, or none of it at all. But cotton buds might get stuck or dislodge into the ear, which might lead to severe problems. The dislodged cotton bud might tempt one to use sharp objects in his ear, trying to get it out. The person might sustain injuries in the ear; by the time he gets to the right professional for treatment, damages would have already been done.
Cotton buds are specially meant for cleaning of fluids in the nose and not for the ear. Keeping ear clean is very important; ironically, ears are designed to clean itself. But when there are pains and infections, the person should see physician.
Nose is very important organ in the body because it protects some particles from entering the throat and lungs. It also contains chemicals that fight infections from entering the body.
One needs to be very careful about early signs of throat infection, especially, when one is exposing oneself to cold and dust, the chances of getting infection grow. It is good for one to identify the early signs and see physicians for treatments.
Infections common to these three organs
The commonest type of infection in the nose and throat is viral infection; this happens when there is cold or the weather is about to change or go dry. The atmosphere carries a lot of viruses that are not friendly to good health.
In children, this is common because their immunity is low and it results to infectious diseases, also with the aged persons because their immunity is also reducing. So, 50 per cent of nose infections are virus, the remaining 50 per cent include bacterial infections and fungal infections. Also, the bacterial infections happen, when the viral infections persist due to poor management. Someone’s nose is running, cough is beginning to come, instead of keeping warm with required treatment, the person would engage in the act that would make it worse.
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1 Comments
Hi Doc. Thanks for this instructive piece. But how can the information be spread to the public? Our proximity radio / TV stations should be helpful in this regard. Cheers!
We will review and take appropriate action.