JRSM > Volume 98, Number 8 > Pp. 360-361

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Use and abuse of cotton buds

Jonathan C Hobson MA MRCS     Jeremy A Lavy FRCS  

Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital, 330 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DA, UK

Correspondence to: Jonathan Hobson, 20 Claremont Grove, Manchester M20 2GL, UK E-mail: jchobson{at}doctors.org.uk

Ear injuries caused by cotton buds are commonly seen in ear, nose and throat (ENT) practice. We asked 1000 patients attending an ENT referral clinic whether they used cotton buds to clean the ear canal. Of the 325 who responded, 171 said they did. The frequency of use was no higher in those with ear complaints than in those with nose and other complaints. 15–20% of respondents disagreed with the statements that cotton buds can cause infections, wax impaction or perforations. On the evidence of this survey, manufacturers' warnings need to be fortified.

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