Prevalence and associated symptoms of cerumen in adults in Rio Grande do Norte

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v12i3.40862

Keywords:

Cerumen; Otolaryngology; Cross-sectional studies.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and associated symptoms of cerumen impaction in adults in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Methods: This is an analytical, cross-sectional and observational research, with a quantitative approach, in which users, companions and employees of a tertiary hospital aged 18 years or older participated, through otoscopy and evaluation of clinical otological complaints. Results: 1,067 adults aged between 18 and 87 participated, 64.9% (n=692) were women and 35.1% (n=375) were men. Among them, 11.6% (n=124) had earwax impaction in one of the ears and 90.3% (n=963) had earwax in at least one ear. Conclusion: The prevalence of cerumen impaction in the study was significantly higher than in similar literature and it was shown to be an issue related to “using a flexible swab with cotton-tipped tips” and “having had previous ear washing”. Otoscopy remains as the gold standard for the mostly asymptomatic clinic of patients with wax plugs.

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Published

19/03/2023

How to Cite

BEDAQUE, H. de P. .; MORAIS, G. M.; SILVA, P. H. de M.; CLEMENTE, M. J. F.; CAVALCANTE, L. E. Q.; OLIVEIRA, L. M. F. de; FERREIRA, L. M. de B. M. Prevalence and associated symptoms of cerumen in adults in Rio Grande do Norte. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 12, n. 3, p. e26012340862, 2023. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v12i3.40862. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/40862. Acesso em: 19 apr. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3

Section

Health Sciences

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Copyright (c) 2023 Henrique de Paula Bedaque; Gabriel Maia Morais; Pedro Henrique de Medeiros Silva; Marconi Júlio Ferreira Clemente; Luiz Eduardo Queiroz Cavalcante; Leticia Maria Fernandes de Oliveira; Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo Ferreira

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