Abstract
Purpose
Cerumen impaction is a public problem of great concern due to associated hearing impairment. Despite cerumen impaction being one of the commonest causes of hearing loss among primary school children, there is no any published study to date from northern Tanzania focused on this topic. This study aimed to address this gap.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design was used where 307 primary school pupils were recruited using a multistage cluster sampling technique and it was conducted from January to July 2023. Data was collected using Swahili translated semi-structured questionnaires.
Results
The prevalence of cerumen impaction was 10.7% with the right ear being mostly affected (57.6%). A statistically significant association was found between prevalence of cerumen impaction and mother’s education level though no association was found between sex, residence, father’s education level and mother’s occupation status. Predisposing factors like history or presence of ear infection, habit of cleaning ears and using hearing aids or earphones showed a statistically significant association The commonest clinical presentation was otalgia (36.4%) and washing ears with water (71.5%) was the commonly applied method of cleaning the ears apart from hospital based interventions. The commonest method of wax removal for those who visited health facilities was ear syringing (42.9%).
Conclusion
Lesser prevalence of cerumen impaction was found in this study though majority had previous history of impacted wax. Cotton bud was the commonest predisposing factor for cerumen impaction. The commonest clinical presentation among those with impacted cerumen was otalgia though some pupils reported asymptomatic cerumen impaction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
References
Gabriel OT (2015) Cerumen impaction: challenges and management profile in a rural health facility. Nigerian Med Journal: J Nigeria Med Association 56(6):390
Chalya PL, Mabenda SB, Bunabe G, Gilyoma JM, Mahalu W (2019) Prevalence of cerumen impaction and associated factors among primary school children in Mwanza City, Tanzania. Tanzan J Health Res 21(1):1–9
Roland PS, Smith TL, Schwartz SR, Rosenfeld RM, Ballachanda B, Earll JM, Fayad J, Harlor AD Jr, Hirsch BE, Jones SS, Krouse HJ (2008) Clinical practice guideline: cerumen impaction. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 139(3suppl1):S1–21
Adegbiji WA, Alabi BS, Olajuyin OA, Nwawolo CC (2014) Earwax impaction: symptoms, predisposing factors and perception among nigerians. J Family Med Prim care 3(4):379
Grossan M (1998) Cerumen removal—current challenges. Ear. nose & Throat Journal 77(7):541–548
Colon G (1994) Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society. August 1844/94. J La State Med Society: Official Organ La State Med Soc 146(8):345–347
Minja BM, Machemba A (1996) Prevalence of otitis media, hearing impairment and cerumen impaction among school children in rural and urban Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 37(1):29–34
Meyer F, Preuß R, Angelow A, Chenot JF, Meyer E, Kiel S (2020) Cerumen Impaction removal in General practices: a comparison of approved Standard products. J Prim care Community Health 11:2150132720973829
Hatcher J, Smith A, Mackenzie I, Thompson S, Bal I, Macharia I, Mugwe P, Okoth-Olende C, Oburra H, Wanjohi Z, Achola N (1995) A prevalence study of ear problems in school children in Kiambu district, Kenya, May 1992. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 33(3):197–205
Kirfi AM, Fufore MB, Samdi MT, Salisu AD (2019) Wax Impaction among School Children aged 7–17 years in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna, Nigeria. Otolaryngol (Sunnyvale) 9(376):2
Brkic F (2009) Significance of ear wax impaction in school children. Acta Med Saliniana 39(1):23–25
Clegg AJ, Loveman E, Gospodarevskaya E, Harris P, Bird A, Bryant J, Scott DA, Davidson P, Little P, Coppin R (2010) The safety and effectiveness of different methods of earwax removal: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 14(28):1–92
Crandell CC, Roeser RJ (1993) Incidence of excessive/impacted cerumen in individuals with mental retardation: a longitudinal investigation. Am J Ment Retard 97(5):568–574
Maharjan M, Phuyal S, Shrestha M, Bajracharya R (2021) Ear wax and hearing impairment in children in Nepal. WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health 10(1):29
Eziyi JA, Amusa YB, Nwawolo CC, Ezeanolue BC (2011) Wax Impaction in Nigerian School Children. East and Central African Journal of Surgery 16(2):40–45
Adhikari P (2009) Pattern of ear Diseases in rural school children: experiences of free health camps in Nepal. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 73(9):1278–1280
Kirfi AM, Fufore MB, Oladeji Raheem Quadri ME, Mohammed A Cross-Sectional Study of Cerumen Impaction Among Inmates of a Nigerian Correctional Facility
Funding
No funding source to be declared.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Authors contributed as follows to the conception or design of the work; the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; and drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content: ZSA contributed 65% while DSD contributed 35%, All authors approved the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate
Informed consents were obtained from the district executive officer and the heads of the selected primary schools. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee of the University of Dodoma.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Consent for Publication
Not applicable.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Abraham, Z.S., Dismas, D.S. Prevalence of Cerumen Impaction and Associated Factors Among Primary School Pupils at an Urban District in Northern Tanzania. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 76, 1724–1732 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-04391-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-023-04391-z