KBB-Forum 2013 , Cilt 12, Sayı 2

THE PREVALENCE OF CERUMEN IN YOUNG MALE POPULATION

Dr. Ömer SAĞLAM1, Dr. Bülent SAAT2, Dr. Engin DURSUN1, Dr. Bilal ÇETİN3, Dr. Uğur KARAPINAR4, Dr. Mustafa GÜNEŞ1, Hemş. İnci TAŞCAN1
1Kasımpaşa Asker Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
2Isparta Asker Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, Isparta, Türkiye
3Gümüşsuyu Asker Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
4Bursa Asker Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, Bursa, Türkiye Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of cerumen and the degree to which such cerumen obscured the ear canal view.

Material and Methods: 4560 young people aged between 13-25 underwent otoscopic examination during June-August 2012. The existence of cerumen impaction, affected side and the degree of cerumen blockage of the ear canal were recorded. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of cerumen blockage of the ear canal: degree 1, obstruction less than 50% of the external auditory canal diameter; degree 2, obstruction more than 50%; degree 3, complete obstruction.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 17.3 years. The incidence of cerumen was detected in 785 subjects (17.2%). 356 of a total 785 subjects (45.4%) had bilateral cerumen and 429 subjects (54.6%) had unilateral cerumen. Among unilateral cerumen group, incidence of the cerumen in the right and left ear were 235 (54.8%) and 194 (45.2%) respectively. 115 ears (32.3%) were completely occluded (degree: 3), 92 ears (25.8%) had moderate occlusion (degree: 2), 149 ears (41.6%) were mildly occluded (degree:1) in bilateral cerumen group. 99 (23.1%) ears were completely occluded (degree: 3), 157 (36.6%) ears had moderate occlusion (degree: 2), 173 (40.3%) ears were mildly occluded (degree:1) in unilateral cerumen group.

Conclusion: The incidence of cerumen among young male subject is 17.2% in our country. The incidence of unilateral cerumen especially the right ear, to all cerumen is more frequent in young subjects. Degree 1 fullness, obstruction less than 50% of the external auditory canal, is most common condition depending on the degree of occlusion of the canal with cerumen. Keywords : Cerumen, prevalence, young male