ABSTRACT
Cerumen Auris [Ear Wax] is a naturally occurring normally extruded product of the External Auditory Canal [EAC]. Despite lots of work on cerumen auris in other parts of Nigeria and the world at large, there was no documented prevalence study in North-eastern Nigeria. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of cerumen auris, evaluate the methods of its removal and to evaluate the possible complications of methods of cerumen removal in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi Northeastern Nigeria. A 1-year retrospective study of all patients seen with cerumen auris at the study center. Patients case files were retrieved, and data on demography, clinical presentation, examination, intervention, as well as complications, were extracted. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. A total of 442 patients' case notes was reviewed, consisting 218 males and 224 females, age ranges from 1-month to 93 years, mean age was 18.76 +/- 1.78, most frequent affected age group was 0-9 years accounting for 43.7%. The calculated hospital prevalence was 4.6%. Ninety-five percent of the patients had their cerumen auris removed via ear syringing. Twenty-one [4.8%] of the patients had canal abrasion, 2.3% had bleeding in the EAC, 1.4% of the patients had vertigo. Cerumen auris, when untreated, can lead to hearing loss and loss of concentration hence its removal using a safe and effective method is paramount. Ear syringing is found to be safe and effective method of cerumen auris removal