Prolonged use of earbuds could cause bacteria levels in the ear to surge, as heat and moisture get trapped, a doctor warned, citing a rise in people seeking treatment for persistent ear itches.
Many of those people reported blocked ears or excessive itching, and often suspected that excessive earwax was to blame, otolaryngologist Chang Chia-chun (張嘉峻) wrote on social media.
However, most clinical examinations found that the culprits were fungal infections caused by wearing earbuds for several hours, he said.
Photo: Tsai Yun-jung, Taipei Times
Many people are unaware that earbuds act like a “plug,” completely sealing the ear canal, Chang said.
Studies have shown that wearing them for an hour could significantly increase bacterial growth in the ear canal due to trapped heat and humidity, and poor ventilation, he said.
Some studies suggested that the growth rate of bacteria could increase by more than 10-fold under these conditions, creating an ideal environment for fungi to thrive, he added.
Chang urged people to be alert if they experience any of the following symptoms: intense itching deep inside the ear; foul-smelling liquid leaking from the ear canal; and muffled hearing, as if sounds are blocked by a thin membrane.
These could be symptoms of otomycosis, or fungal ear infection, he said, warning against using cotton swabs to relieve itching.
Using cotton swabs to dig into the ear could push fungal spores deeper into the canal or cause abrasions that might lead to more serious inflammation or cellulitis, he said.
Heavy earbuds users are advised to remove them every 50 minutes to allow the ear canal to ventilate; regularly use alcohol to disinfect the earbuds and keep them dry; and seek medical help if discomfort persists, he said.
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