Ear syringing with different materials, distilled water and white vinegar and diluted povidone iodine (comparative study)

Background: Even with using of electric devises to remove ear wax, the syringing still used by large number of seniors, so Irrigation is used frequently in both primary care and specialty settings. And we should use the materials in syringing that with less chance of causing ear infection. Objectives: To find out the difference of effects on getting ear infection between distilled water and white vinegar and diluted povidone iodine in ear syringing. Patients and methods: Comparative cross-sectional study focus on 138 patients who need ear syringing to remove ear wax who visit otolaryngology department in AL-Yarmook teaching hospital in a period between February 2017 and April 2018 in determined days in a week., history taken from each patient a routine otolaryngology examinations were done including ear otoscopy, then we divided the sample in to three categories according to the material used in ear syringing, distilled water and white vinegar and diluted povidone. as ear syringing done after dissolving ear wax with the same agent for all patients. Data collected by questionnaire as age, gender, complain, any ear symptoms, ear syringing as mention in the introduction, we made three groups of patients the first who ear syringing with distilled water, the second with povidone iodine 10% diluted by 10cc povidone to 50 cc distilled water, the third is with white vinegar diluted by 10cc vinegar to 40 cc distilled water, and follow up the patient in the 2nd and 5th and 7th days. Results: 71 male (51.44%) and 67 female (48.55%) with ear wax, the main age group is (31-45y) i.e. 47 cases out of 138 in percentage (34.05% ) , the second age group is (46-60y) i.e. 43 cases out of 138 in percentage (31.15%). using distilled water alone the percentage of ear infection after syringing i.e. otitis externa is 7 cases of 46 patient (15.21%) . By using diluted white vinegar the percentage became less i.e 4 out of 46 patient (8.69%). And finally the povidone iodine (diluted) made the percentage better by only one case out of 46 patients (2.17%). Conclusion • Concerning wax percentage no male to female preponderance in our study. • The commonest age group present with wax is (31-45y). • Using ear syringing with povidone iodine is better than distilled water or even diluted white vinegar by decreasing percentage of ear infection.