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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Risks and clinical implications of self-ear cleaning using cotton swabs: A public health perspective
Sibi S, Pugazh Gowrishankar, Diwakaran, Swathi T and Sujitha K
Year : 2025 | Pages: 26-29
Received on: 08/09/2025
Revised on: 17/10/2025
Accepted on: 25/10/2025
Published on: 10/11/2025
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Sibi S, Pugazh Gowrishankar, Diwakaran, Swathi T and Sujitha K ( 2025).
Risks and clinical implications of self-ear cleaning using cotton swabs: A public health perspective
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 10( 6), 26-29.
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Abstract
Insertion of objects (especially cotton swabs) into the external auditory canal for self-ear cleaning remains a widespread habit, despite evidence of associated otologic complications. This study aims to assess the prevalence of self-ear-cleaning using cotton swabs, quantify the associated risks (e.g., cerumen impaction, external ear canal injury, tympanic?membrane perforation), and evaluate awareness of safe ear-hygiene practices. A cross-sectional survey among [insert sample size] participants found that [x %] reported using cotton swabs regularly, and [y %] had experienced at least one ear-injury event (e.g., bleeding, pain, hearing reduction). Multivariate analysis identified low awareness, frequent use, and the belief that “earwax removal equals hygiene” as significant predictors of complications. The findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions and policy-level guidance to discourage unsafe practices and promote safer alternatives. The public-health implication is that reducing
Keywords
Cotton swab, Cerumen impaction, Ear canal injury, Hearing loss, Otitis externa.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
