Boric acid: features of use in the ear and contraindications
One of the common diseases diagnosed in adults and children is ear pain. Most often, the main cause of the development of the inflammatory process in the hearing organs is considered to be otitis media, which becomes a consequence of previous colds.
Table of contents:
- Boric acid: features of use in the ear and contraindications
- Properties of boric acid
- Features of otitis treatment
- Contraindications and side effects
- Prevention of otitis
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- Comments (3)
- Ksenia
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- We recommend reading:
- Our pages
- Discussions
- How to treat ear with boric acid?
- Is it possible to drip boric acid into the ear?
- How to properly instill boric acid into the ear?
- Video: How to instill boric alcohol correctly?
- Boric acid for otitis media
- Boric acid for sulfur plugs
- Boric acid in the ear during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Boric acid for children: instructions for use
- Release form and composition
- Effect on the body
- Indications
- Contraindications
- Can it be used in children?
- How to drip into the ear
- Side effects
- Overdose
- Reviews
- Storage Features
- Analogs
- The use of boric acid to treat the ears of adults and children
- Release form
- Use for adults
- Rinsing the ear with hydrogen peroxide
- How to bury adults
- Side effects
- Contraindications
- Treatment of children
- Reviews
- Is it possible to put boric acid in the ear?
- Characteristics of the drug
- List of contraindications
- Instructions for use
- Boric acid in the ear: method of application and indications
- Boric acid
- Indications for use of the drug
- Contraindications and side effects
- Proper ear treatment with boric acid
- Treatment of otitis media with boric acid
- Treatment with boric acid for ear pain
- Application
- Side effects of using the drug
- Contraindications
- Composition and release form of the drug
- Is it possible to drip boric acid into the ear?
- Boric acid and alcohol in the treatment of ears: is it possible to drip, how and when?
- Boric alcohol and boric acid - what is the difference?
- Indications for use
- Contraindications
- Methods of application
- Video: Dr. Komarovsky about compresses for otitis media
- Use during pregnancy
- Side effects
- Can complications arise?
- Is it possible to use boric alcohol prophylactically in the ear?
Treatment of ear pathologies is carried out using various methods and means, among which we can highlight a drug such as boric acid. This traditional method of treatment requires increased caution, so it is important to know the specifics of using boric acid in the ear.
Properties of boric acid
From the school biology course it is known that boric acid is an inorganic substance that resembles white crystals in appearance. Their main property is their rapid dissolution in alcohol and poor connection with cold water. In the pharmacy chain you can purchase a solution of boric acid, which contains alcohol. With its help, it is possible to get rid of diseases caused by the progression of various pathogenic microorganisms and treat ear pain.
The hearing organs play an important role in the life of any person. This is due to the fact that it is with their help that one can perceive the outside world and live a full life. Boric acid is a drug that is widely used in otolaryngology.
Despite the high effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of ear pathologies, it should be used only after consultation with a specialist.
It is recommended to use boric acid only in adults, and treating children with this remedy should be avoided. This is due to the fact that such treatment can cause the accumulation of toxins in the child’s body and its poisoning. Even adults are allowed to instill boric acid into the ear only after carefully reading the attached instructions.
Features of otitis treatment
Boric acid - use in the ear for otitis media
The main symptom of progressive otitis in the hearing organs is severe pain. They can disturb the patient for several days, and during the period of exacerbation of the disease they drag on. To achieve a positive result in the treatment of otitis, it is recommended to use complex treatment, remembering to first consult with a specialist.
A boron cyst helps get rid of inflammation in the ears, and also helps relieve pain at the very beginning of the development of the disease. Before use, the drug should be slightly warmed up and only then can it be instilled into the hearing organs.
Treatment of otitis media with boric acid is carried out in a certain sequence:
- Treatment should begin with thorough rinsing or cleansing of the ear from accumulated wax. To do this, you need to slightly tilt your head in the opposite direction from the sore ear and drip 3-5 drops of hydrogen peroxide into it. It is recommended to sit for 10 minutes, after which you need to turn your head in the other direction and drip peroxide into the other ear. Thanks to boric acid entering the hearing organs, pathogenic bacteria die, which significantly speeds up the healing process.
- After disinfection of the ear canal, boric acid is instilled. You need to turn on your side, drip 3 drops of a 3% alcohol solution of boric acid into your ear and lie in this position for a minute. After this, it is recommended to repeat this procedure for the second ear.
- Using a cotton pad, you should carefully get rid of any moisture remaining in the hearing organs.
- After the procedures, you should close the ear canal using a cotton swab.
Treatment of hearing diseases with boric acid should be discussed with your doctor.
Contraindications and side effects
Boric acid in the ear - limitations and possible adverse reactions from use
Boric acid can quickly penetrate through the mucous membranes of the skin and this can be dangerous for children. It is for this reason that it is not recommended to treat hearing diseases with boric acid in childhood. This substance is slowly eliminated from the body and can accumulate in large quantities in organs and tissues.
It is worth refusing to treat otitis media with boric acid in the following cases:
- the presence of individual intolerance to the drug
- problems with kidney function
- during pregnancy
It is important to remember that you should not use this drug for more than 7 days. This is due to the fact that treatment with boric acid for a long time can oversaturate the body with toxins and many people call this drug cellular poison.
Useful video - Features of the development of otitis media.
An overdose of boric acid can cause some side effects:
- the appearance of a vomiting attack
- kidney dysfunction
- severe headaches
- appearance of seizures
- decreased amount of urine excreted
- the appearance of a rash on the skin
- bowel dysfunction such as diarrhea
If treatment of hearing diseases with boric acid causes the development of side effects, then you should refuse such treatment and seek help from a specialist.
Prevention of otitis
Otitis media often results from the progression of various inflammatory diseases and colds in the body. In this regard, experts say that the best way to prevent this disease is to increase the protective functions of your body.
With good immunity, it is possible to avoid the penetration of various pathogenic microorganisms and bacteria into the body, and thereby protect against the development of otitis media.
In the event that the pathology does affect the body, then you need to carefully ensure that mucus does not thicken in the nasal cavity.
For this it is recommended:
- drink as much fluid as possible
- maintain the required humidity in the room
- constantly blow your nose
In addition, it is important to ensure that water does not enter the hearing organs during bathing. Otitis is considered a complex and unpleasant disease of the hearing organs, the treatment of which is carried out using various means. It is often possible to get rid of pathology with the help of boric acid, however, such therapy must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
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Comments (3)
Ksenia
02/26/2018 at 23:32 | #
My mother always, when her ears hurt, takes cotton wool, moistens it with boric alcohol and sticks it in both ears. I sometimes do this too, it stings at first, but then goes away. But I didn’t even know that I needed to treat it with peroxide first. As well as the fact that it is toxic for children, I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info.
Ksenia
02/26/2018 at 23:32 | #
My mother always, when her ears hurt, takes cotton wool, moistens it with boric alcohol and sticks it in both ears. I sometimes do this too, it stings at first, but then goes away. But I didn’t even know that I needed to treat it with peroxide first. As well as the fact that it is toxic for children, I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info.
03/05/2018 at 14:27 | #
I was prescribed boric acid after long-term treatment with different ENT specialists without any results. The ear doesn’t seem to hurt, but when I started treating with boric acid, it felt like liquid was pouring inside the head and it was bursting the ears. I don’t know whether to continue treatment. ENT was paid.
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How to treat ear with boric acid?
Many people are interested in the question: is there a difference between boric acid and boric alcohol. If we adhere to a chemical point of view, then there is a difference: the first is a crystalline substance, the second is alcohol in which this crystalline substance is dissolved. From the point of view of a person who has an earache, both boric acid and boric alcohol are the same thing. The official name of this medicine is “BORIC ACID. Alcohol solution for topical use."
In the context of this article, the names “boric alcohol” and “boric acid” will be used interchangeably.
Is it possible to drip boric acid into the ear?
An alcohol solution of boric acid is produced specifically for the treatment of external otitis of the ear. This is the only indication for the use of this drug.
The acid has antiseptic properties, which makes its effect similar to the effect of hydrogen peroxide. The substance is used only externally to treat inflammatory processes in the ear canal.
Boric acid is toxic.
Boric alcohol is prohibited from being used to treat otitis media and eustachitis. Upon contact with the cells lining them, the acid penetrates abundantly into the blood. Due to slow elimination (5-7 days from one dose), it accumulates in the body and has a toxic effect.
An overdose of the drug leads to systemic disturbances in the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and central nervous system, causing indigestion and nausea. Possible death.
How to properly instill boric acid into the ear?
The classic method of treatment with boric alcohol is to place a cotton swab soaked in 3-5 drops of solution in the ear. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times a day.
Due to the toxicity of the drug, the course of treatment should not exceed 5 days.
Many people instill the drug directly into the ear. The process does not have any distinctive features from other drops. A few tips may be helpful:
- Use a prepared preparation of 3% boric acid for instillation into the ear.
- Instill the warm solution. To do this, take the medicine into a pipette and place it in warm water for 2 minutes.
- 2-3 drops is a sufficient dosage for one ear.
- The drug is an aggressive environment for the skin of the external auditory canal. The instillation procedure should be carried out no more than 2 times a day.
- For the same reason, boric acid and hydrogen peroxide should not be combined.
After instillation, close the ear canal with a piece of cotton wool for 2 hours.
Video: How to instill boric alcohol correctly?
Boric acid for otitis media
A solution of 3 percent boric acid is the most common drug for the treatment of otitis externa. The pronounced antiseptic properties and low price of this medicine make it indispensable for:
- Scratches and cracks in the ear canal
- Boils and suppurations
- Hearing loss due to narrowing of the external auditory canal
Who is at risk for otitis externa:
- People who like to use foreign objects to clean their ears.
- People who frequently expose their ears to water.
- Suffering from skin diseases.
- Prone to furunculosis.
As a result of damage to the integrity of the ear canal, a pathogenic microorganism can enter the wound, which will cause inflammation and suppuration, swelling of the wall of the ear canal. Symptoms for which boric acid treatment of the outer ear is indicated:
This type of otitis is not accompanied by severe pain and increased body temperature. If there is pain in the ear, then drip boric alcohol several times. However, if the pain does not go away, you should consult a doctor: it may be otitis media of the deep parts of the ear.
Boric acid for sulfur plugs
A 3% solution of boric acid is a well-proven remedy for ear congestion. The accumulation of secretion from the sulfur glands can be caused by several factors:
- Features of the anatomy of the ear canal.
- The wrong way to clean the ear, in which the wax is compacted deep into the passage.
- Excessive hair growth in the external auditory canal.
Thus, even without taking actions that lead to excessive aggregation of the secretion, no one is guaranteed that one day he will not lose his hearing. To begin with, at home, you can drip a solution of boric alcohol into your ear for 3-5 days. The drug does not have the ability to remove or dissolve sulfur, but it is able to give the plug a softer consistency, which will allow it to gradually begin to come out naturally.
To speed up the process, more chewing movements should be made: they set the ear canal in motion, due to which the sulfur moves towards the exit from it.
Boric acid in the ear during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The use of 3 percent boric acid in an alcohol solution to treat ears has its limitations. Due to the ability to accumulate in tissues, the long period of elimination from the body and the general toxicity of the drug, it is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In addition, boric alcohol is not prescribed:
- in the child's ear,
- patients with renal failure,
- people with hypersensitivity to boron or alcohol,
- with a perforated eardrum.
The acid can cause allergic skin reactions, redness, itching and burning in the ear canal.
Additional precautions when treating the ear with boric alcohol: avoid contact with unprotected skin areas (mouth, nose, eyes, etc.), wounds and damaged skin. The drug is toxic and quickly penetrates the bloodstream.
In a word, BC is an outdated tool.
There is only one point if there is nothing and you need to disinfect your ear.
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Boric acid for children: instructions for use
Boric acid has been known for many decades as a fairly effective antiseptic. This drug is used in their practice by ophthalmologists, ENT doctors and dermatologists. This inexpensive remedy is available in all pharmacies and is often prescribed for otitis media in adults. But can children be treated with boric acid? The opinions of doctors and parents on this matter are very different.
Release form and composition
Boric acid can be purchased in two forms:
- Powder. It is packaged in bags and jars of 10 or 25 grams. Such a fine powder has no smell or taste. Apart from boric acid, there are no other ingredients in this form.
- Alcohol solution. The concentration of boric acid in this form is 3%, and the remaining volume is represented by ethyl alcohol. The solution is sold in bottles with a capacity of 10 to 100 ml. It is a colorless transparent liquid that has an alcoholic odor.
Effect on the body
Boric acid is known for its disinfecting effect. This compound has antifungal and antiparasitic effects, and also has an anti-pediculosis and antibacterial effect. Boric acid is used only for external treatment, but the drug is well absorbed and has a therapeutic effect for a long time.
Indications
The scope of boric acid use has narrowed significantly these days, which is associated with a fairly high frequency of side effects. This drug is in demand mainly for ear diseases, as well as for treating skin with dermatitis. For adults, boric acid can be dripped into the ear canal or a compress can be made with this medicine. This drug is also used for pediculosis, pyoderma and weeping eczema.
For conjunctivitis, eye drops containing boric acid are often used. For example, the combination “boric acid + zinc sulfate” is found in many medications prescribed by ophthalmologists.
Contraindications
Boric acid is not prescribed:
- If you are intolerant to such a medicine.
- For kidney diseases.
- If the eardrum is perforated (the medicine should not be dripped into the ear).
- For treating hairy skin.
- For treating damaged skin.
Can it be used in children?
According to the instructions for boric acid, the use of such medicine for children is prohibited. It is not recommended to use the drug before the age of 15. This remedy is especially dangerous for infants, so it is strictly contraindicated for babies under one year old. However, many ENT doctors are at risk of prescribing boric acid to children under 15 years of age. They prescribe the drug at 2 years, 4 years or at another age, relying on their own medical experience.
If a doctor sees indications for the use of boric acid and takes responsibility, then it is permissible to treat children with this remedy. But using such an antiseptic in childhood on the advice of relatives or friends is categorically not recommended. In addition, an otolaryngologist will not prescribe boric acid as the only treatment for otitis media. Such a medication will necessarily be supplemented with other drugs, for example, antibiotics.
How to drip into the ear
If the doctor has confirmed otitis media in the child and prescribed boric acid, it should be used correctly at home. Follow these guidelines:
- The drug is heated before use. To do this, it is best to immerse the bottle with the solution in warm water. It does not need to be heated until it reaches body temperature.
- If powder is used, it must be diluted with warm water until the desired concentration is obtained.
- The child should be placed on his side so that the sore ear is located at the top.
- The ear canal is cleaned of dirt using a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide.
- Having dripped the number of drops prescribed by the doctor into the inflamed ear, you need to wait about 10 minutes, and then the ear canal is blotted with clean cotton wool to remove any remaining medication.
- If the otitis media is bilateral, the same procedure must be done for the second ear.
- The ear should be dripped twice a day for a week, unless the doctor prescribes a different regimen.
Usually the result (reduction of pain and discomfort) is noticed after one or two procedures, but it is undesirable to stop instillation before the time prescribed by the ENT doctor, so that the disease does not reappear after some time.
You can see more clearly how to drip a child’s ear in the following video.
Side effects
Treatment with boric acid can cause:
In some cases, the use of boric acid leads to a state of shock.
Overdose
When boric acid is used in too large a dose or in a situation where a child accidentally drinks the drug, poisoning occurs. It is manifested by vomiting, loose stools, central nervous system depression, decreased temperature, rash and other symptoms. For a child’s body, a lethal dose is 4-5 grams of this acid.
Long-term, slight excess of the dosage of boric acid leads to chronic intoxication. The patient experiences exhaustion, hair loss, and anemia. Swelling and eczema may appear at the site of use. Also signs of such an overdose are stomatitis and convulsions.
Reviews
The attitude of doctors towards boric acid has changed greatly in recent years. Some specialists still prescribe this medicine and note that it is good for otitis media. However, most doctors have abandoned boric acid in pediatric practice in favor of more modern means with a lower risk of complications.
Mothers who have dripped boric acid into their child’s inflamed ear after an ENT doctor’s prescription generally note the rapid effect of such a drug. After instillation, the child experiences a feeling of heating and even a slight burning sensation, but this is normal. According to parents, this drug helps get rid of shooting pains and improves the condition of otitis media, but it is important to follow the dosage prescribed by the doctor.
Storage Features
Boric acid should be kept in a place where this drug is inaccessible to the child. The temperature when storing boric acid should be at room temperature. The shelf life of boric acid solution is 3 years.
Analogs
For ear pain and inflammation, doctors often replace boric acid with the following ear drops:
- Otipax. This drug is an analgesic antiseptic. It is allowed to drop into the ear of children even in infancy.
- Sofradex. This drug contains antibiotics combined with a glucocorticoid. The medicine is prescribed over the age of 1 month and can be used both for ear diseases and for ophthalmic pathologies (can be dripped into the eyes).
- Otinum. The basis of this medication is choline salicylate. The drug can be instilled into the ear of children over one year old.
- Polydexa. This anti-inflammatory agent includes antibiotics and a glucocorticoid hormone. It is prescribed for external otitis at any age.
- Anauran. This is a combination medicine consisting of antibacterial compounds and an anesthetic. It can be used for otitis in children over one year old.
If it is necessary to replace boric acid with another antiseptic, for example, for washing the skin, use:
- Betadine. The basis of this medicine is active iodine. It is used for diaper rash, stomatitis, bedsores, skin infections and many other problems. Rinsing the skin with Betadine solution is allowed for children older than one month.
- Miramistin. This antiseptic is in demand in the treatment of wounds, burns, otitis media, sinusitis and other diseases. It is often used for oral thrush and chronic tonsillitis. Children are prescribed Miramistin in solution from the age of 3 years.
Whether or not to use boric acid for otitis media in a child is of course up to you to decide, but we suggest you look at the advice of pediatric specialist Dr. Komarovsky.
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The use of boric acid to treat the ears of adults and children
According to recent medical research, the use of boric acid solution to treat ears in children under 15 years of age is unjustified and even dangerous.
Boric acid has been used as a disinfectant since the second half of the 19th century. The advantages of the antiseptic - the absence of smell, taste, and soiling of linen - were immediately appreciated, and the product was introduced into everyday use. The popularity of the product is not entirely clear. It has been established that the drug has low antimicrobial activity, is toxic, dangerous to the fetus, and in 1987 in the USSR its use for infants, pregnant and lactating women was prohibited.
Release form
- Pure white, odorless powder - 10 g packets;
- Alcohol solution 0.5%, 3% - 10 ml bottles.
Boric acid release form
Use for adults
For otitis media, acid is prescribed when the eardrum is intact. If the integrity of the membrane is compromised, perforations and ruptures are observed, then medications containing antibiotics are prescribed. For the treatment of otitis, a 3% alcohol solution is prescribed. The duration of the course should not exceed 7 days. To instill medicine into the ear, the patient must prepare:
Composition of boric acid
- 3% acid solution;
- 3% hydrogen peroxide solution;
- cotton pad;
- pipette;
- gauze flagellum.
Rinsing the ear with hydrogen peroxide
It is useful to rinse with hydrogen peroxide before the procedure; the use of 3% peroxide allows you to cleanse the ear canal of contaminants. To rinse, it is convenient to lie on your side.
- Place 5 drops of 3% peroxide in one ear;
- 10 minutes wait;
- Change the position of the head;
- Wipe the ear shell with a cotton pad.
How to bury adults
The drug is instilled 4 times a day, 3 drops at a time if the otitis media is bilateral. The duration of action of the drug is 15 minutes, the patient should lie still and make sure that all the boric acid gets into the ear from the pipette; after 15 minutes, a cotton swab is inserted into the ears. At night, it is useful to make gauze flagella, moisten them with a 3% acid solution, and place them in the ear canal.
In addition to treatment, the ENT doctor prescribes drops containing an antibiotic. Antibiotic drops are used after cleaning the ears with peroxide and instilling acid.
Use a pipette to drop boric acid into the ear.
Side effects
- Vomit;
- Convulsions, confusion;
- Shock.
Contraindications
- Kidney diseases of any etiology;
- Childhood;
- Pregnancy;
- Individual intolerance.
Treatment of children
Traditionally, boric acid is used to treat earaches in children, although the use of less toxic and more effective agents would be more justified. The British Paediatrics Association banned this substance back in 1966 due to its high toxicity. It is especially dangerous to use the drug in any dosage form for infants. The main risk is the use of this substance on the kidneys. In case of any kidney disease, boric acid poses a serious threat to them.
Acid is removed from the body unchanged through the urinary system. The kidneys of an adult cope with the toxin, boric acid does not accumulate in the body. In newborns and small children, renal function is not yet fully formed. Children's kidneys cannot cope with the dangerous toxin, the compound accumulates in the organs, poisoning the baby.
Traditionally, pediatricians trust acid. Boric acid has been used for over 100 years. But this is the case when the practice of treating children is completely at odds with the theory. As persistently as theoretical medicine insists on the dangers of the drug, practicing pediatricians continue to prescribe these drops in the ears of children. Children are prescribed to instill the drug into the ear in combination with drops containing an antibiotic. Before instilling boric acid, the ear is instilled with 3% hydrogen peroxide, after which 3% boric alcohol is instilled.
3 drops of acid are injected into the sore ear and try to keep the baby on his side for at least 10 minutes. Then the ear canal is closed with a cotton swab. At night, you can put a gauze turunda soaked in an acid solution into the sore ear. Inflammation of the ear can be accompanied by suppuration, which can cause a rupture of the eardrum, so it is dangerous to instill boric acid when pus drains from the child’s ear.
This compound easily enters the blood through the skin, penetrates all internal organs, and accumulates in high concentrations. Even use for external ear rinsing is dangerous for children. Acid is used only for the treatment of adults and only as prescribed by the attending physician. Uncontrolled use of the drug can cause poisoning in adults.
Reviews
Review from SolntseKO
And one more review:
Review by Mamanya1986
As a child, as far as I can remember, my ears often hurt. My mother is a doctor and treated me with boric alcohol, dripping it into the sore ear and always warmly. Namely, boric alcohol and not the acid itself. And in the comments I read that even the doctor prescribed boric acid. There is a difference between an alcohol solution and an acid
? Or did I forget chemistry?
The information is provided for informational purposes only. Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of disease, consult a doctor.
Is it possible to put boric acid in the ear?
Treatment of the ear with boric acid has long been used in folk medicine. According to reviews, this remedy copes very well with otitis media at the initial stage of the disease, getting it is not a problem, and it is very cheap.
But few people know that due to severe toxicity during pregnancy, nursing mothers, and children, the USSR Ministry of Health banned boric acid instillation into the ear in the late eighties of the last century. Moreover, there are many more effective medications that can cure adults and children.
Characteristics of the drug
Boric acid is a good antiseptic and has antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antifungal properties. An antiseptic, when interacting with pathogenic organisms, causes the coagulation of microbial cell proteins and disrupts cellular permeability, inhibiting the growth and development of pathogens.
The drug is intended for external use only: if you accidentally swallow a few drops of the solution or treat a wound with boric acid, the likelihood of poisoning the body is high, and death is possible. The lethal dose if ingested by an adult through the mouth is 4 to 5 g for children.
If you exceed the norm and drip more boric acid into the ear than necessary, this can cause a burn to the ear canal or eardrum, which will lead to the opposite result, and the treatment of the inflammatory process will be delayed. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the product without consulting a doctor, at your own peril and risk.
Boric acid is produced in two versions: in the form of a solution and powder. When treating otitis, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% alcohol solution is mainly used. The powder is 100% boric acid. Like the alcohol solution, it is used to treat ears, skin diseases, and eyes, making an aqueous solution based on it immediately before use.
But you should know that it is undesirable to dilute the acid yourself, since if you make a mistake, you can cause a burn to the skin or mucous membrane of the eye.
In medical practice, doctors usually prescribe the use of boric acid as an adjuvant, in combination with other drugs. The drug suppresses the activity of bacteria and helps the medicine successfully cope with the disease.
List of contraindications
If it so happens that your ear hurts and you can’t get to a doctor, you can drip an alcohol solution into your ears yourself, according to the instructions. You need to make sure there are no contraindications.
Since boric acid is a toxic substance and can be absorbed into the blood, the solution should not be dripped into the ears of a child, during pregnancy, or during lactation. If your baby or pregnancy has severe ear pain, you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe ear drops that are safe for your health.
During pregnancy, you should not delay visiting the ENT specialist: if otitis media progresses, in order to cure the disease, medications containing an antibiotic may be needed, which can negatively affect the child’s health.
It is also not recommended to use boric acid in case of chronic renal failure or if you are allergic to the drug.
It is strictly forbidden to instill medicine if the eardrum is ruptured or if damage is suspected: this can cause hearing loss, deafness and even death. In these situations, you need to find an alternative remedy that is less hazardous to health.
When boric acid is instilled, the following side effects are possible:
Despite such a number of contraindications, there are many reviews that boric acid in the ear did not cause any negative consequences, but managed to stop ear inflammation in the bud. True, in the treatment of chronic otitis media, many agree that boric acid as an independent remedy is ineffective, and it should be used in combination with more effective drugs.
Instructions for use
In the absence of pregnancy, other contraindications and the impossibility of getting to a doctor, boric acid can be used to treat ears: at the initial stage it will stop the development of otitis media, eliminate ear pain and prevent complications. You also need to know how to instill the drug correctly if the doctor, in addition to the main medicine, prescribed boric acid.
Before the procedure, you need to clean your ears using hydrogen peroxide. To do this, you need to tilt your head in the opposite direction and drop two or three drops of peroxide into the ear canal, where it will react with earwax and hiss. After a few minutes, tilt your ear in the other direction so that the remaining hydrogen peroxide leaves the ear canal, then wipe the auricle dry.
After this, drop three drops of boric acid into the affected ear, after warming the pipette with the medicine in your hands. It is better to do this while lying down, since after this you need to lie down quietly for ten minutes to allow the product to penetrate as deeply as possible.
Then you should turn over to the other side and tilt your head so that the remaining product flows out (otherwise there will be a feeling of stuffiness), and wipe your ear. After this, cover your ear with cotton for a while, creating a thermal effect to improve the result. After finishing treating the ear, if necessary, boric acid should be dripped into the opposite ear.
The procedure should be done three to four times a day, but not longer than a week. According to reviews, the pain often subsides after the first time. Despite this, boric acid should be instilled into the ears for about two more days, since a relapse may occur or the infectious process will proceed covertly. If after the first two or three days the ear pain has not subsided, you should not continue self-medication and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Also, during treatment, it is very important to pay attention to the disease that provoked the development of otitis media. It could be the flu, sore throat, sinusitis. In this case, to get rid of ear pain, you need to cure the underlying disease.
The youngest daughter constantly complains of pain in her right ear. The ENT doctor said that the cause of everything was the adenoids, and advised us to drip boric acid into the ear. How effective and safe is it?
I am an ENT specialist myself and don’t understand when boric acid is prescribed to children. It is toxic and quite dangerous for children's bodies. I would recommend Otipax drops instead of boric acid.
I dripped boric acid into the ears of all my children. And everyone is alive and well. You just shouldn’t abuse it and drip it every day.
Raisa, but medicine does not stand still. New drugs are constantly being developed that are more effective and safer than previous ones.
I have been following the doctor’s orders for the second week regarding ear treatment with boric acid. There is no effect.
Source: http://prosluh.com/medicamenty/bornaya-kislotu-v-uho.html
Boric acid in the ear: method of application and indications
Boric acid
Boric acid is a well-known drug that has been widely used in medical practice for many years. The medicine has a disinfecting and anti-infective effect, and when used topically it also has anti-pediculosis properties. The acid penetrates very well through the skin and mucous membranes, therefore it is particularly effective in treating both adults and children. The drug is available in the form of a solution, where the main substance is boric acid and the auxiliary substance is alcohol.
Indications for use of the drug
Several years ago, boric acid was used as an antiseptic for children and adults. Today, with the identification of significant side effects, the use of the drug is limited. According to the instructions for use, boric acid solution can be used in the treatment of the following pathologies:
- Various types of conjunctivitis
- Skin dermatitis
- Certain ear pathologies.
For conjunctivitis and dermatitis, an aqueous solution of acid is used, and when treating inflammation of the ear cavity, an alcohol-based solution is prescribed. In some cases, boric acid is used for eczema, skin inflammation, and diaper rash in children.
Contraindications and side effects
The medication is prohibited for patients with serious kidney pathologies, nursing mothers, newborn children, and persons with intolerance to the components of the medication. Boric acid is also contraindicated during pregnancy. The most common side effects are: nausea and vomiting, skin rashes, kidney dysfunction, headaches, etc.
Proper ear treatment with boric acid
Boric acid is used in the ear in the form of drops. In order for the treatment to have the desired effect, you need to know how much and how to treat with boric acid, as well as how to instill it correctly. Basic rules for using the drug for ear pain:
- Before dripping the medicine, you need to clear your ears of wax plugs. To do this, drop 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide into the sore ear, then tilt your head and remove the remaining product with a napkin.
- Then tilt your head to the side and drip 3-4 drops of boric acid at room temperature into the sore ear. You need to lie in this position for 10 minutes, turn your head in the opposite direction so that the medicine is evenly distributed over all the walls of the ear canal. The remaining solution is removed with a napkin.
- How many times a day to drip the drug and the duration of the treatment course is determined by the doctor. As a rule, therapy is carried out for no more than 7 days, instillations occur 3-5 times a day. In case of severe inflammation and pain, a course of antibacterial therapy is carried out in parallel.
- Sometimes, to enhance the effect, and when there is a lot of pain in the ear, you can put a turunda (small gauze swab) moistened with medicine into the ear canal at night, and remove it after sleep.
Treatment of otitis media with boric acid
Very often, many specialists prescribe boric acid to adult patients for otitis media. This is a proven method of treating this disease; the medication eliminates inflammation, relieves pain, and also copes with viruses and bacteria. When treating otitis, use a solution of boric acid in alcohol at room temperature. Using a pipette, 3 drops of medicine are dripped into the ears, 2-3 times a day, then turundas are inserted. Treatment should last no more than a week; if there is no result, you should visit a doctor to prescribe other remedies.
In some cases, boric acid is also prescribed for children after one year of age for otitis media.
It must be remembered that you should never use this drug on your own when treating a child.
When treating a child, experts recommend using other medications along with boric acid. The treatment course for a child is no more than 5-7 days in order to avoid unwanted complications and adverse reactions. The medicine is administered to children according to the same scheme as for adults. Sometimes the drug is used as a compress; for this, gauze or cotton swabs are moistened in the solution and inserted into the ear.
In addition, if a lot of wax has accumulated in the ears and plugs are being removed, boric acid is used as a prophylactic. After the procedure, compresses are made using a cotton tourniquet, inserting it into the ear for a couple of hours.
Source: http://lekhar.ru/lekarstva/antiseptiki/bornaja-kislota-v-uho/
Treatment with boric acid for ear pain
Many people think that medications that have been tested over the years do not harm their health. But this is not the case at all, and the use of a long-known drug can be harmful. For example, a painfully familiar solution of boric acid.
In the USSR, boric acid was dripped into the ear of both small and adult patients. Then the Ministry of Health banned its use in the treatment of patients under 15 years of age, nursing mothers and pregnant women. It turned out that this medicine is very toxic. The solution can harm the unborn child: if even one dose enters the body of a pregnant woman, the correct development of the baby may be disrupted. N
Some pediatricians still occasionally recommend treating ears with boric alcohol.
Application
The solution can be used to treat the common type of otitis media. Initially, the ears must be washed with hydrogen peroxide, but if pain occurs in the middle ear, antibacterial agents must be instilled. Therefore, before treating your ear with boric acid, you need to make an appointment with a doctor. If a disease of the middle or inner ear is detected, the drug can be dripped as an adjuvant. A compress applied to the ear area will help greatly in treatment.
Instructions for the procedure: lie on your side and clean the inner surface of the ear. To do this, you should drip 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide, after 10 minutes change the position of your head and wipe the auricle with a cotton swab or disk. Then drip boric alcohol into the ear and plug it with a cotton swab.
How to treat ear pain with boric alcohol if your doctor has prescribed antibacterial agents? They can be used 60 minutes after instillation of boric alcohol. How many times should this procedure be performed? It is best to take 4 times a day for 5-7 days. Then gauze flagella soaked in the drug are inserted inside and left in the ear overnight. In addition, you can make a compress. You should definitely undergo a follow-up examination with a doctor, especially if the pain in your ears is very slight, and you have already stopped taking the medicine.
Instructions for using medications, obtained from a doctor, will help avoid various complications after otitis media.
At night, you can insert a gauze strand soaked in this medicine into your ear and make a compress around the auricle.
Side effects of using the drug
If you have kidney disease, you cannot treat the ear with boric acid. The doctor will prescribe antibiotic drops and tablets, and also advise using a compress. But even those whose kidneys are fine should not use this medicine for more than 7 days. Side effects may occur:
- vomiting and urge to do so;
- confusion;
- anaphylactic shock;
- the appearance of severe headaches;
- kidney dysfunction. This will be indicated by a decrease in the amount of urine excreted in comparison with the liquid drunk;
- the appearance of rashes on the skin;
- convulsions.
Boric acid in the ear is an excellent medicine for otitis, if the instructions received from the ENT specialist are followed exactly.
Contraindications
In other cases, there is a strict prohibition on the use of this medicine. This:
- age under 15 years is a direct contraindication for boric alcohol instillation into the ears;
- any kidney diseases and disturbances in their functioning;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- drug intolerance;
- damaged eardrum.
Composition and release form of the drug
Boric acid is an inorganic substance whose crystals are white when undissolved. The main property of this substance is its poor dissolution in cold water and rapid dissolution in an alcohol solution. The pharmacy sells boric acid:
- in liquid form (dissolved in alcohol);
- in crystalline white powder.
The alcohol solution is more common and has a warming effect, helping to get rid of the inflammatory process and pathogenic microorganisms in the ear. When used carefully, boric alcohol (drops, compress) can destroy an ear infection in a few days where more gentle drugs have failed.
Despite the fact that the solution is highly effective in treating some ear diseases, you should consult an ENT specialist before using it. This precaution is associated with the ability of boric acid to form toxins, quickly penetrate the skin, accumulate in tissues and are slowly eliminated from the human body. Therefore, the doctor must assess the risks and how much medicine to drip before the patient is given instructions for use.
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Is it possible to drip boric acid into the ear?
Chemists claim that boric alcohol is fundamentally different from boric acid. By boric acid they mean a solid crystalline substance, and by alcohol they mean a solution in which this substance is diluted. But from a medical point of view, these concepts are completely equivalent. To verify this, just read the name of the drug on the bottle. In medicine, only an alcohol solution is used, but it is more often called “Boric acid”.
Is it dangerous to put boric acid in your ears?
Doctors use boric acid only in one case - if the patient has otitis externa. This diagnosis limits the scope of application of the drug in question. Due to its antiseptic properties, boric acid acts on the human body in a similar way to hydrogen peroxide.
The solution can only be used externally to treat certain inflammations of the ear canal.
It is strictly forbidden to use the drug for patients with eustachitis and otitis media. In such diseases, large amounts of boric acid are absorbed into the blood. Boric acid is highly toxic and is eliminated from the body very slowly. The elimination period for a single dose ranges from 5 to 7 days, as a result, the concentration of acid in the blood quickly increases. This has a toxic effect on the entire body. In case of overdose, depression of the central nervous system occurs, heart function deteriorates, the load on the liver, kidneys, and digestive disorders increases. In extreme cases, death can occur.
So, the answer to the question - is it possible to drip boric acid into the ear - it will be like this - it is possible, but only as prescribed by a doctor and then with extreme caution.
Rules for the use of boric acid for the treatment of ear diseases
The most common treatment method is using a cotton swab. Place 3-5 drops of the solution on a swab and place it in the ear. Change the tampon two to three times a day. Do not forget that boric acid is highly toxic. Therefore, the treatment period should not exceed 5 days.
Some advice for those who decide to drip boric acid into the ear. This treatment option is also possible.
1. Do not try to prepare the drug yourself. Use only a ready-made three percent solution.
2. Do not use cold solution. This can make the disease worse. Place the solution collected in a pipette for some time in water heated to fifty degrees. After that you can drip.
3. Single dose of the drug – 2-3 drops in each ear.
4. If you instill the drug in larger quantities, damage to the skin of the ear may occur. Therefore, the solution should not be used more than twice a day and together with hydrogen peroxide.
5. After the procedure, place dry cotton wool in your ear. Remove it after 2 hours to prevent chemical burns.
Source: http://princessjournal.ru/mozhno-li-kapat-bornuyu-kislotu-v-uxo
Boric acid and alcohol in the treatment of ears: is it possible to drip, how and when?
Ear pain is not only painful, but also sometimes dangerous, caused by external or otitis media. External otitis (literally, inflammation of the ear) is localized in the external auditory canal and on the skin of the auricle, and middle otitis is in the cavity of the middle ear, limited by the eardrum on the outside and the auditory, or eustachian, tube on the inside. Otitis media can be catarrhal (exudative) and perforated (purulent). The last option is more serious, especially if we are talking about a chronic process. Therefore, purulent otitis media should in no case be treated with boric alcohol, since there is a high probability that alcohol will have a cauterizing effect on the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity through a hole in the eardrum. This is fraught with the development of hearing loss.
For each episode of ear pain, the patient should be examined by an ENT doctor, and only after the examination, making sure that there is no perforation (hole) in the eardrum, the patient can drip boric acid in the form of an alcohol solution into the ears.
Boric alcohol and boric acid - what is the difference?
The difference between boric alcohol and acid is that these are two different dosage forms with different concentrations of the active substance - boric acid, which has powerful antiseptic properties.
Boric acid itself is a white crystalline powder, which should be diluted with water before use. As a rule, this drug is used in the treatment of skin diseases and is not prescribed to the ear, due to the fact that the acid does not dissolve in water and forms crystals. In addition, if you dilute the powder yourself, you can get a more saturated solution than necessary and cause a chemical burn to the skin of the external auditory canal and eardrum.
To prepare a 2% solution, you need to dissolve a level teaspoon (4 grams) of powder in a glass of boiled water at room temperature (200 ml), and to prepare a 3% solution, take a heaped teaspoon (6 grams) per glass of water. . However, it is better not to experiment with proportions and purchase an alcohol solution of boric acid at the pharmacy, especially if instillation into the ear is intended for a child.
An alcohol solution of boric acid, or boric alcohol, is boric acid diluted with ethyl alcohol in various concentrations - 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%. As a rule, a doctor prescribes a 3% solution in the ears for otitis media. The beneficial effect of boric alcohol in the ear in the treatment of otitis is due not only to the ability of boric acid to destroy bacteria and fungi, but also to the mild warming effect of alcohol.
Indications for use
The only indication for the use of boric alcohol in otolaryngological practice is external and otitis media without perforation of the eardrum.
It is difficult to determine at home whether there is perforation or not, since the characteristic leakage of pus or mucus from the external auditory canal can also be a sign of external otitis, so an in-person examination by a doctor is necessary in any case. Moreover, sometimes perforation can be pinpoint, and suppuration remains unrecognized by the patient, but boric alcohol in the ear, even with minor perforation, remains no less dangerous.
Contraindications
The official instructions for use note that the drug is contraindicated in the following situations:
- When the eardrum is perforated,
- In case of severe renal impairment,
- During pregnancy,
- During the period of breastfeeding,
- In children under 16 years of age.
The presence of such contraindications is explained by the fact that boric acid can be absorbed by the mucous membranes with the substance entering the systemic circulation and excreted by the kidneys within several hours. However, pediatric otolaryngologists in almost all cases of exudative otitis media without perforation recommend instilling boric alcohol into the ear of a child over one year of age and consider it safe if the dosage and frequency of instillation of the drug into the baby’s ears is strictly observed.
Methods of application
Due to the fact that a few decades ago, ears were treated mainly by instillation of boric alcohol and alcohol compresses, most patients are confident that only these measures can relieve ear pain and cure otitis media.
However, modern otolaryngology provides a wide range of drugs in the form of drops that have not only analgesic, but also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Therefore, as a rule, boric alcohol in the treatment of otitis is used only as an auxiliary method. Immediately after the doctor has made a diagnosis of otitis, he prescribes more modern ear drops - Otofa, Anauran, Otipax, Otinum, Otirelax, etc., and only in parallel with them or after 5-7 days of treatment recommends boric alcohol as a way to consolidate what has been achieved from other drugs effect.
The use of boric alcohol is possible in several ways:
Instillation of drops is carried out as follows - after toileting the external auditory canal, a bottle or pipette with the collected solution is heated in the palm of the hand for several minutes and 3-4 drops of boric alcohol are instilled into the ear of a child and 5-6 drops into an adult. After instillation, you need to lie down for 5-10 minutes on the opposite side, and then place a piece of dry cotton wool in the ear canal to hold the solution in the ear.
The frequency of instillation is three times a day for the first 3-5 days and once at night for the next 5-7 days. Treatment with boric alcohol should not exceed more than two weeks in total.
When instilling the drug in the ear, unpleasant sensations may appear - burning, itching, tingling, which go away on their own within a few minutes. If severe unbearable pain or dizziness occurs, or if discomfort in the ear persists for more than half an hour, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible and do not use the drug in the future without the permission of an otolaryngologist.
Placing turunda into a sore ear is more effective, since alcohol does not leak out of the ear and the active substance is evenly distributed throughout the ear canal, maintaining activity longer than when instilled. In order to make a turunda, you should take a small piece of dry cotton wool, twist it into a flagellum, moisten it with a solution heated in your hand and place it not too deep into the ear canal. Cover the top with dry cotton wool as well. The frequency and duration of use is the same as for instillation. The greatest analgesic effect is achieved when turunda is applied at night.
Warming compresses should be used with caution, since heat is contraindicated during an active inflammatory process. However, a single application of a compress at night is acceptable if medical assistance is currently difficult to obtain, and acute ear pain causes severe discomfort and anxiety. Such a compress can be given to a child older than one year, if the baby’s mother is sure that it is his ear that hurts.
warm compress on the ear
- Take a piece of thin cotton fabric and make a longitudinal cut from the top to the center. The result is so-called “pants” with a slot for the ear.
- Cut the next piece of fabric, bandage or gauze in the same way.
- Apply the first dry layer to the skin to prevent skin burns, then moisten the second layer in heated boric alcohol and apply it to the first layer, carefully placing the slot on the auricle so that it remains outside the compress.
- Next, cover the fabric with a piece of polyethylene, a layer of dry cotton wool on top and secure the compress with a bandage or scarf. For pain in both ears, you can apply compresses to both ears together or alternately.
- The fabric should be re-wetted with warm boric alcohol every minute, the compress retention time is about two hours.
Video: Dr. Komarovsky about compresses for otitis media
Use during pregnancy
A pregnant woman should know some nuances regarding boric alcohol in the ears, namely:
- Due to the fact that boric acid is a toxic substance and can be absorbed into the blood with prolonged use, pregnant and lactating women are strictly contraindicated from using the drug in the ears.
- If you experience acute ear pain during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe more modern and safer ear drops,
- You should not delay visiting a doctor, since as the inflammatory process progresses, you may need oral antibiotics, which is not always beneficial for the unborn baby, and at the onset of otitis media, the chances that the inflammation can be dealt with only with ear drops are quite high.
Side effects
Side effects with proper use of the drug rarely develop, but still, with prolonged use of boric alcohol in the ear, conditions such as:
It should be recalled that boric acid is a poison and, if accidentally or intentionally ingested, can cause severe dysfunction of internal organs, including death.
Can complications arise?
Complications can develop if the patient has a perforation of the eardrum, since alcohol can enter the middle ear cavity and cause a burn to the mucous membrane of the eardrum, which can prolong the inflammatory process in the middle ear and increase the duration of treatment.
Long-term healing perforation in this case leads to chronicity of the process and gradual hearing loss.
Is it possible to use boric alcohol prophylactically in the ear?
Some mothers of children who are often susceptible to otitis media often wonder whether it is possible to drip boric alcohol into the ears to prevent inflammation of the middle ear and at the initial signs of a runny nose in a child. Considering that children attending kindergarten most often suffer from otitis, and they almost always have a runny nose leading to otitis, it is suggested that alcohol be instilled almost daily into the child’s ears. The answer to this question is clearly negative, since long-term treatment of the ear with boric alcohol is prohibited due to the risk of side effects.
Source: http://uhonos.ru/uho/lechenie-uha/bornaya-kislota-i-spirt/