Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of manual removal and irrigation in cerumen removal in children

ObjectiveTo analyze the safety and efficacy of manual removal and irrigation in cerumen removal in children.MethodsA case-control study that prospectively collected the data of 6-month to 18-year-old children who underwent cerumen removal in the outpatient Department of Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.ResultsA total of 347 ears were analyzed. The success rates of the manual removal and irrigation groups were 76.8% and 66.4%, respectively, with statistically significant differences. The rates of adverse reactions in both two groups were low and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Meanwhile, differences in the proportion of cerumen obstruction less than 10%, discomfort and satisfaction after removal were statistically significant between the two groups. The manual removal group has a higher success rate for dry, flaky cerumen removal, whereas the irrigation group exhibits a higher success rate for dry, packed cerumen removal. While poor cooperation affects the success of both approaches, a heavy degree of cerumen obstruction affects the success of manual removal.ConclusionsManual removal is quicker and more convenient, whereas irrigation is cleaner and less discomfort. Selection based on ceruminous type achieves high success rate.