Cleaning ear with cotton bud leaves Coventry man with deadly brain infection – Coventry Telegraph

The simple task of cleaning his ears with a cotton bud left a Coventry man fighting for his life against a deadly brain infection.

He suffered seizures and collapsed, being rushed to A&E at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire reports the British Medical Journal.

The 31-year-old endured surgery, a week in hospital and eight weeks taking anti-biotics.

Thanks to the efforts of medics at the hospital he went on to make a full recovery.

The BMJ report said the patient was suffering from a necrotising otitis externa, a bacterial infection, which was targeting the lining of the skull.

It is believed the cotton from a cotton bud got lodged in the ear canal before making its way up to his skull sparking the seizures.

University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire

Ear nose and throat specialist Dr Alexander Charlton treated the patient and was one of the authors of the BMJ article.

Following a CT scan, the man underwent surgery and remained in hospital for a week followed by a two month course of antibiotics.

The BMJ report said: “At 10 weeks, the patient remained well, with no neurological deficit and no residual ear symptoms, and CT demonstrated complete resolution of the intracranial abscesses.”

NHS guidance on cleaning your ears

Given this case, you could be forgiven for being put off using cotton buds to clean your ears.

And according to NHS guidance, that’s a good thing.

On the NHS website it states fingers and objects like cotton buds should never be used to clean ear wax, which it says often falls out on its own.

However if it doesn’t, it is recommended using a few drops of olive oil or almond oil in your ears, twice a day, for a few days.

The wax should then fall out, usually in your sleep, over a two week period.

A pharmacist can also offer advice if you need help with a build up of ear wax.

Do you know the man who battled the cotton bud brain infection? Email [email protected]

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Source: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/cotton-bud-brain-infection-coventry-15973600