Cotton swab use may result in ruptured eardrum Washington:
Inserting a cotton swab into the ear may result in a ruptured
eardrum, according to a new study.It also showed that in most
cases the rupture heals on its own and surgery is only necessary
for the most severe cases. "In the past, many otolaryngologists
have wondered if surgery is really necessary to treat a ruptured
eardrum. The results of this study show that 97 percent of cases
healed on their own within two months, proving that most cases
do not require surgery," said Ilaaf Darrat, an otolaryngologist
at Henry Ford Hospital and co-author of the study. More than
half of patients seen in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat)
clinics, regardless of their primary complaint, admit to using
cotton swabs to clean their ears. But if the cotton swab is
pushed too far in the ear canal, it can cause serious damage,
including ruptured eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane
perforations (TMP). Severe TMP can cause facial paralysis and
vertigo. "If a patient i