Should I wash with hydrogen peroxide if I have otitis media? -Life Health

Hydrogen peroxide is a medical antiseptic solution. This solution is used by many people to clean open wounds, clean pulp cavities, root canals… However, is hydrogen peroxide effective and safe to use in the treatment of otitis media?

1. What is the effect of hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of otitis media?

Not only widely used in cleaning open wounds, hydrogen peroxide is also abused in the treatment of otitis media.

When hydrogen peroxide is instilled into the wound, we will see the mouth of the wound bubbling. This is because hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen and removes tissue debris and pus from the wound. In otitis media or otitis externa, the oxygen molecules will push the pus in the ear canal out, making it easier to clean the ear.

Due to such effects, hydrogen peroxide is widely used, even abused. Many patients with otitis media have arbitrarily bought hydrogen peroxide to use without knowing the harmful effects of abuse.

Do not abuse hydrogen peroxide in otitis media.

2. Harm when abusing hydrogen peroxide to wash the ear

When arbitrarily using hydrogen peroxide as part of the treatment of otitis media without going to an otolaryngologist, it will cause harm to the ear.

First of all, otitis media cannot be cured with hydrogen peroxide alone. Remember, hydrogen peroxide only has the effect of cleaning and expelling pus, it is not effective in treating the cause of otitis media. As a result, otitis media can get worse if not treated correctly with antibiotics.

Second, although hydrogen peroxide has a good effect on expelling pus, but if abused, it will damage the ear canal. Because in addition to antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide can also cause burns leading to necrosis, narrowing of the ear canal, affecting the drainage of pus (if there is still inflammation of the pus), even severely affecting hearing.

3. How to use hydrogen peroxide to clean ears properly

First of all, when you suspect otitis media, you need to see an otolaryngologist for examination and treatment indications. Otitis media occurs mainly in children (accounting for about 75%), especially children under 2 years old are most common. At this age, children do not know how to describe the symptoms, so they are very vulnerable to serious injury. Therefore, parents should not be subjective when their baby has otitis media, which can lead to the child’s long-term health condition.

Using hydrogen peroxide to wash the ears must be prescribed by a doctor. Note that when buying hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds, pay attention to the concentration. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide should be from 1.5-3%, do not use concentrated hydrogen peroxide in treatment because it is easier to cause corrosion and burn the lining of the ear canal.

Do not use hydrogen peroxide for prolonged ear cleaning. After instilling hydrogen peroxide into the ear, it needs to be cleaned, so as not to leave hydrogen peroxide in the ear.