Help! Ear wax / scab: toddler middle ear

[loulou0402]

Hi. I just noticed that my 22 month old has a lump of hard wax deep in his middle ear. It's brown in colour so unsure if it's blood or from a tiny cut?

I'm not sure how or when this happened (sometimes he does put his finger / crayons in there!). It's not bothering him, no swelling or crying etc - I just happened to notice when checking his ears. But it's grossed me out a bit.

I assume I just leave this to heal itself / come out naturally rather than trying to remove it with cotton buds?

Thanks from a first time mum!

Is it blocking it?

I would recommend going to the doctor who may refer you to the hospital to have it sucked out if it's quite large. I wouldn't stick anything in the ear other than olive oil drops which will help soften the wax.

Brown wax indicates old firm wax.
If its not blocking his ear or bothering him, if leave alone and left the ears work it out themselves.

Could try some olive oil to soften it and get it moving if needed.

www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/5280Pears.pdf

No, not blocking it. It's just off to one side. Not bothering him and ear canal not inflamed

It isn't in his middle ear, it is in his ear canal which is the outer ear. If it isn't bothering him just leave it alone, don't poke it or try to clean it. It is normal to have some wax in there and it will probably fall out. If he seems to be in pain or unwell you can ask your practice nurse to have a look.