The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has issued the first comprehensive clinical guidelines for assessment, management, and treatment of impacted cerumen, or earwax (Roland PS et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;139[3]:S1-S21).
12 MILLION VISITS ANNUALLY
Although the problem seldom gains physician interest, it leads to about 12 million patient visits annually in the United States, resulting in about 8 million removal procedures.
While it may seem odd that clinical guidelines had never been written about a condition that results in so many patient visits, it is not that surprising to Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, a coauthor and chair of otolaryngology at the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
"I don't think anyone takes earwax seriously despite it resulting in 12 million patient visits," said Rosenfeld. "It's the Rodney Dangerfield of conditions—it gets no respect."
The guideline authors define the condition as an accumulation of cerumen . . . [Full Text of this Article]
