The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Review Meta Analysis
The effectiveness of topical preparations for the treatment of earwax: a systematic review.
Earwax is a common problem in both primary and secondary care. There is uncertainty as to the most effective topical treatment. ⋯ On current evidence, there is little to choose between water-based and oil-based preparations; non-water-, non-oil-based preparations appear promising at both clearing earwax and facilitating successful syringing, but further large trials are needed. Although immediate ear syringing is effective and convenient for patients, it may be less cost-effective than using eardrops and perhaps avoiding syringing. Most of the evidence regarding such a common and time-consuming problem is not of high quality.