ABSTRACT
To study the causes and to evaluate the impact of using cotton bud in the ear in a cross section of population in Karachi. 100 consecutive cases who reported with complaints after using cotton buds for varying durations were selected at the keamari campus of Ziauddin Hospital over aperied of nine months. The ones with active suppurative disease were excluded. Queries were made about the mode and the motives for using cotton buds. Their complaints were registered in detail. They were all subjected to examination for ear with otoscope. A few were examined with microscope. Tuning fork test were done in all the cases. Observations were recorded on a proforma. Prospective observational. January 2007 to November 2007. Majority of cotton bud users belonged to the 11 to 30 years age group and reported usage for months. Among the reported complaints itching and pain dominated followed by feeling of fullness, discharge and hearing impairment. Tenderness of the pinna was observed, while oederna and erythema was the dominant finding [along the external meatus, followed by discharge and skin cracking. Otomycosis was definitely found in 13 cases while foreign bodies [pencil leads and rubber pieces] were detected in the under 10 years age group users. Wax was found in only 4 meati. 44 of the meati did not show any abnormal feature. Tympanic membrane showed perforations of various sizes in 4 of the cases. Hearing was impaired in 30 cases. Use of cotton bud is harmful and unsafe. Awareness about the causes of itching is vital and always necessitates an ear examination. Public knowledge about the possible hazards of using cotton buds should be dispersed on the media