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Cotton buds must have their uses
Editor - I am writing to ask for help with something that has been puzzling me for an entire attachment in ear, nose, and throat medicine. In our very first teaching session, we were told that nothing smaller than an elbow should be inserted into the ear canal. Over the weeks this has been repeated many times. I even heard an ENT consultant on the radio using the phrase so I feel safe in assuming that this is sound
advice.
My dilemma stems from a common household object that
is often made from plastic, with cotton moulded to each end and is
certainly smaller than most elbows: the cotton bud.
Although I have been informed that I should not clean
my ears out using cotton buds, I am finding it very difficult to resist
the temptation. How can I expect patients to heed advice that I myself
cannot adhere to? I find myself concluding that it would be
so much simpler if cotton buds didnt exist at all. If the ENT
specialty has disowned this external auditory meatus sized tool, then
what can it be legitimately used
for?
On inspection of
several packages I discover that the cotton bud is “ideal for
baby care and your own beauty care.” I dont have children
and obviously dont care for my beauty enough to know what is
being referred to. Can anyone help me see the
light?
Anushka Soni fifth year medical student Oxford University
anushka.soni@medschool.ox.ac.uk
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LETTERS
Cotton Buds Must Have Their Uses
Anushka Soni (July 2002)
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Heidi
(August 9, 2004)
Read this response
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LETTERS
Cotton Buds Must Have Their Uses
Anushka Soni (July 2002)
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Claire
(September 21, 2004)
Read this response
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LETTERS
Cotton Buds Must Have Their Uses
Anushka Soni (July 2002)
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Heidi
(August 9, 2004)
Year 12 heidigirl17@hotmail.com
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The author of the following article said he finds it difficult to resist the temptation of using cotton buds. Is this because you find them addicitive to use? My mum began using cotton buds to clean my ears when I was just a small child, and I discovered they have very addictive qualities. Using the cotton bud in the ear triggers a pleasure response, giving an almost "high" sensation. I am not trained in the area at all, however I have had a life long addiction of using the buds in my ear. I have read up on the topic and discovered this is because the cotton buds peel a fine layer of skin away, then the ears begin to itch and you have to use the cotton bud again to relieve the itch. It becomes an addictive cycle where you must always use a bud in your ear, breaking the skin... itching the skin. It becomes impossible to stop because the itching sensation is so bad, you have to scratch it. Scratching it of course relieves it and gives a pleasurable feeling. Is there anyone else out there with a similiar addiction?
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LETTERS
Cotton Buds Must Have Their Uses
Anushka Soni (July 2002)
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Claire
(September 21, 2004)
Year 12, College jclarence8@aol.com
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Heidi, now i know im not the only one. thought i was mad. but am suffering with terrible ear ache/pain at the moment. dr told me its excema in the ear, last time i had an ear infection. but it hurt so much i want to cry. im sure that the ear buds hav done it and ive gone to far. i think i must have a perforated eard drum. its so painful dr must have it wrong.
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