Prevalence, Management Modalities and Outcome of Impacted Cerumen among Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Tanzania

Background: Cerumen is a natural substance secreted by sebaceous and ceruminous glands in the outer third of the external auditory canal (EAC). It serves by preventing infections, moisturizing the ear canal, and acting as a barrier against insects and water. Impacted cerumen affects approximately 6% of the general population, 10% of children, and over 30% of the elderly. Symptoms of impacted cerumen include tinnitus and hearing loss. In children, it can hinder language and speech development, while in adults, it can lead to depression, embarrassment, career limitations, and occupational stress. Treatment methods for impacted cerumen include the use of cerumenolytics (e.g., 3% hydrogen peroxide), syringing, manual removal, and microsuction under microscopic guidance. Objectives: This study intends to determine the prevalence of impacted cerumen in patients attending the ENT department, describe the management modalities of impacted cerumen and determine the outcomes of management of impacted cerumen. Methodology: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted for six months from December 2022 to May 2023. All patients attending Ear nose and Throat (ENT) clinic were included. Participants with impacted cerumen were consented and assessed using a structured questionnaire, followed by audiological examination with pure tone audiometry. Management outcomes were recorded immediately and on seventh day post-treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, and audiometric data compared using an unpaired sample t-test. Results: The study included 1,717 participants, of whom 161 had impacted cerumen, with median age of 19 years (IQR: 12-28 years). Those over 50 years old were 85, (52.8%), and 82 (50.9%) were males. The prevalence was 9.4%. Treatment methods included microsuction 53.4%, manual removal under microscopic guidance 11.2%, and a combination of microsuction and cerumenolytics 35.4%. There was a significant improvement in symptoms following cerumen ...