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Bad-smelling earwax is a warning sign that you are experiencing an abnormal condition in this organ. So why does earwax have a bad smell and what to do when encountering this situation? Continue reading the following article will help you get the answer.
1. What is earwax and its effects?
Earwax is created in the outer third of the ear canal cartilage. It is a mixture of secretions from the sebaceous glands of the outer ear canal, sweat, dead cells, and dirt. Earwax has the effect of protecting the ear canal, helping to clean, lubricate, help fight bacteria, fungi and water and attack from other external agents.
There are 2 genetically determined types of earwax: dry earwax and wet earwax. Wet earwax differs from dry earwax biochemically mainly in its higher lipid composition.
Normal earwax will be brought out from the inner ear canal, carrying dead cells and foreign matter that they retain thanks to the process of "conveyor" moving the epithelium from the center of the eardrum to the outside, supported supplemented by chewing movements of the jaw.
2. Why does earwax have an unpleasant odor?
Earwax exists inside the ear canal and any cause that causes damage to the components inside the ear canal leading to an infection can cause earwax to have an unpleasant odor. Some common causes and conditions that accompany the symptoms of earwax with a bad smell are:
2.1. Excessive accumulation of earwax In some people, earwax can be secreted too much and cannot move all out thanks to a "conveyor belt" process that leads to the formation of excess earwax. Bacteria and dirt accumulate a lot, causing the ears to have a bad smell.
In addition, too much earwax can lead to reduced sound conduction, mild conductive hearing loss, ear pain, headache, dizziness and itching,...
2.2. Middle ear infections in babies Middle ear infections, bad smell in children's ears often occur after a cold, flu or sinus infection, allergies. In this type of ear infection, fluid is trapped behind the eardrum, parts of the middle ear swell, and the infection results in a foul-smelling ear condition in babies.
Because infants cannot express their discomforts verbally, parents often can only through smelling a baby's ears that have a foul odor and symptoms such as fever, increased fussiness, or twitching of the ears. strong later, there is yellow or white liquid coming out of the ear, ... to recognize abnormal signs in the child's ears.
In toddlers or older children, in addition to smelly ears, you may also see signs such as the baby stumbling, falling more easily (because the ears play a role to help balance), difficulty hearing sounds sound, headache.
2.3. Middle ear infections in adults Unlike in children, middle ear infections in adults can be a more serious problem. If you're an adult with a middle ear infection, pay attention to your symptoms and see your doctor.
The eustachian tube in children will develop more fully and reduce the chance of middle ear infection as they get older, but if you are an adult and have a small or not developed steeper as in a child, there Smoking habits, seasonal allergies or year-round allergies increase your risk of a middle ear infection coming back again and again, progressing to a chronic middle ear infection. .
Symptoms of otitis media in adults are usually mild, such as ear pain, difficulty hearing, discharge from the ear, an unpleasant odor in the ear.
However, if it cannot be treated completely and recurs many times, it can cause many serious complications, such as: perforated eardrum, hearing loss, mastoiditis, peripheral facial paralysis, inflammation. meningitis, encephalitis, cholesteatoma,...
2.4. Earwax has a bad smell due to a foreign body in the ear Foreign body stuck in the ear can be found in both adults and children. Foreign bodies in the ears of adults are usually insects, while in children are foods, toys, small particles,... Symptoms encountered when there is a foreign body in the ear are:
Ear pain from light to heavy depending on the size and type of foreign body; Hearing loss or loss; Ear infections caused by damage to the ear from a foreign body; Ears have an unpleasant odor. 2.5. Outer ear infections cause earwax to smell. Otitis media occurs when bacteria or fungi infect your ear canal. It usually happens when your ear is in water for a long time. Too much moisture inside the ear can break down the skin on the wall of the ear canal and make it easier for bacteria and fungi to enter and cause an infection.
Symptoms of otitis externa include mild fever, red swollen ears, itching, hearing loss, ear discharge with pus, earwax with an unpleasant odor,...
2.6. Odor caused by ear cancer Ear cancer is quite rare, developing from a chronic infection of the middle ear or outer ear canal and a number of other causes.
Symptoms of common ear cancer are:
Ear pain; Ear discharge may be accompanied by blood; Earwax smells bad; Loss or loss of hearing; Tumor in the ear, tinnitus, headache, dizziness, facial paralysis,... 2.7. Cholesteatoma Cholesteatoma is an abnormal collection of skin cells deep inside your ear, however it is not a malignant condition like cancer. It usually occurs after otitis media or due to a birth defect.
They are quite rare but, if left untreated, can damage the delicate structures inside the ear that are essential for hearing and balance.
A cholesteatoma can cause an ear infection with pus, an unpleasant odor, hearing loss, dizziness, or damage to the facial nerve.
In addition, you can also experience earwax with an unpleasant odor in other diseases such as ear eczema, ear shingles, mastoid tuberculosis,....
3. Remedies for earwax with an unpleasant odor
When you have earwax with an unpleasant odor, you should first seek medical care to be examined by qualified doctors, find out the cause and give appropriate treatment:
In case In case earwax accumulates too much or there is a foreign body in the ear and has caused some symptoms, earwax and foreign body will be removed by specialists by safe methods, you should not do it yourself. this action because it may aggravate the current situation. Ear infections will generally be treated with antibiotics, pain relief, and ear cleaning if necessary to remove the offending, inflammatory fluid. At the same time during the treatment period for the ear to fully recover, you should not put water in the ear, do not use hearing aids or wear headphones,... In short, foul-smelling earwax is often caused by many causes. . Regardless of the cause, if the ear has an unpleasant odor accompanied by an abnormal lump, you need to immediately go to a medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid serious consequences later.
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