TY - JOUR T1 - Ear wax removal interventions: a systematic review and economic evaluation JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - e680 LP - e683 DO - 10.3399/bjgp11X601497 VL - 61 IS - 591 AU - Emma Loveman AU - Elena Gospodarevskaya AU - Andy Clegg AU - Jackie Bryant AU - Petra Harris AU - Alex Bird AU - David A Scott AU - Peter Davidson AU - Paul Little AU - Richard Coppin Y1 - 2011/10/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/61/591/e680.abstract N2 - Excessive ear wax can lead to symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, itching, vertigo, and pain. Treatment to remove ear wax is generally carried out in primary care, and recent estimates suggest that up to 2 million ear irrigations are performed in England and Wales each year.1 This places a considerable demand on GP surgeries.A range of simple and often inexpensive remedies and proprietary drops can be used either to dissipate the wax orsoften it prior to removal. Although removal through irrigation usually occurs in primary care, some people may self-treat. Treatments offered often appear to be based on custom and local practice, rather than an awareness of the comparative effectiveness and costs of the different alternatives. Although evidence on the efficacy of different treatments has been published, no study has examined both clinical and cost-effectiveness. This report summarises a systematic review and economic evaluation of different approaches to ear wax removal taken from a UK perspective.Eleven electronic databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, and Embase were searched until November 2008. Using prespecified criteria, studies of any treatment for the removal of ear wax, in any population, were included. Outcomes included hearing loss, adequacy of clearance, quality of life, and adverse events. Studies were randomised controlled trials or controlled clinical trials. Two reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and … ER -