Abstract
Abstract: Cerumen was glandular secretions at the outer one-third of the ear mixed with exfoliated squamous epithelium. The jaw's movement keeps the cerumen in the ear canal in a state of balance, so it is clean, protects and lubricates the external auditory canal. Impacted cerumen is also caused by excessive production, narrow canal anatomy, viscosity wax, and irritation due to cotton-tipped swabs habits. This study aims to determine whether chewing habits influence the degree of cerumen obstruction in patients with impacted cerumen. The study was a cross-sectional method in impacted cerumen patients at 17-80 years old in the ENT clinic of District Hospital Wates, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Risk factors assessed were education, age, gender, chewing habits, and cotton-tipped swabs habits. The data were then analyzed by chi-square test. Of 80 respondents with the dominant age range 17-38 years (58.8 %), the number of males was 47 (58.8 %), and females were 33 (41.2 %). The significant risk factors comprised the chewing habit and the use of cotton-tipped swabs. Factors affecting the degree of cerumen in patients with impacted cerumen were the chewing habits and cotton-tipped swabs habits.
Highlights
Cerumen is a natural product of the auditory canal
Cerumen impaction is potentially causing a feeling of fullness in the ear, conductive hearing loss, and disturbing view to examine the tympanic membrane.[1,2]
The researcher assessed the relationship between the independent variable of chewing habit and the degree of cerumen by otoscopy examination
Summary
Cerumen is a natural product of the auditory canal. There are two types of cerumen: 1) Dry-type cerumen, the yellowish or gray color in brittle or hard form, and 2) Wet type cerumen, which is brown color, slippery, and sticky. The color can turn dark when exposed to free air.[1] Cerumen can physiologically expel through natural jaw movement when talking and swallowing. Cerumen serves as the protection, canal lubricant, and transporting epithelial debris to prevent epidermal dryness. Excessive cerumen production can close the external auditory canal called cerumen prop, cerumen obscurant, or impacted cerumen. Cerumen impaction is potentially causing a feeling of fullness in the ear, conductive hearing loss, and disturbing view to examine the tympanic membrane.[1,2]
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