Millions of children and the general public continue to be at risk with the sale of cotton buds in most supermarkets and some pharmacies in the country.
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) experts admit to have received numerous cases whereby a person had taken the cotton bud too far after dosing off or someone accidentally rammed on them as well as cases of children whose mothers had gone too far while cleaning them.
Despite these side effects, petty traders, supermarkets and pharmacies in Dar es Salaam continued to sell the products. Importers, on the other hand, have been ignorant of cotton buds health hazards, saying “it’s a minor issue.
” Muhimbili National Hospital’s (MNH) ENT surgeon, Dr Menrad Kahumba, wondered why importers and distributors of cotton buds do not ask manufacturers about the significance of cotton buds and whether there was caution saying that the bud should not be put in the ear canal.
“For those supermarkets and pharmacies selling cotton buds that don’t have physical addresses on their labels, should be aware that these are fake products like many others in the market because the lack of address justifies one to be taken into account,” he cited.
According to Dr Kahumba, it is mandatory for producers of whatever products to have addresses of all products sold in respective shops so that the origin of product is known and to state what the usage of the product is, including health caution.
He said that thousands of people were putting themselves at risk everyday because of picking up addictive habits without knowing that they are causing harm to themselves like “cigarette smoking, the usage of toothpicks even after a cup of tea and almost daily use of cotton buds to remove earwax.”
A random survey conducted by this newspaper in most large supermarkets and pharmacies in Dar es Salaam established that there are many cotton buds being sold without the statutory caution that its usage may cause harm and should be kept out of the reach of children.
‘Sunday News’ also established that cotton buds are also sold at kiosks, side shops and even by hundreds of hawkers roaming the streets of Dar es Salaam. An attendant working in one of the major pharmacy chains in the city who didn’t want to be quoted said that the shop was aware of what ENT specialists caution about cotton buds and admitted selling them but was quick to add that they always made it a point to inform customers especially mothers not to insert the buds in the ears and nose of their children.
The attendant said that cotton buds had other uses apart from how they are commonly used and that they advise mothers to use them to clean their children between the fingers and toes and the outer part of the ear.
A supermarket attendant located within the city centre said that she was totally unaware of the risks to the ear and that though the products were out of stock when the survey was conducted, she admitted selling them because they are on high demand.
Ms Miriam Labuva, a shop keeper in Sinza Mori, also in the city, said she had no idea that the cotton buds cause infection to the ear and was visibly surprised, questioning why this was the first time she was hearing of it. “My family and I have been using cotton buds for so long.
I have to say I am very surprised to hear that these things can cause harm to people, mass education is needed if the public is to be effectively sensitised,” she said. Mr Abdul Shomari (60), a taxi driver in Tazara area, admitted that he was a frequent user of the buds saying that he used them at least three times a week and was vividly worried when he learnt about what the doctors had to say about cotton buds.
ENT specialists at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) have raised alarm on the usage of cotton buds to clean ears as the practice increases risk to infectious diseases. The MNH Surgical Services Dr John Kimario, told the ‘Sunday News’ that cotton buds had devastating effects to the human ear and advocated for the public to refrain from using cotton buds.
“What people don’t know or want to know is that wax isn’t dirt but rather protection to the ear drum. Just like saliva helps in oral hygiene and tears to cleanse the eyes, wax is important to the ear,” he explained. Dr Kimario said that the ear has its own mechanism of cleaning itself where 1mm is cleaned every 24 hours and that cotton buds increased the risk of putting foreign bodies in the ear and also causing injury to the ear drum.
By MASEMBE TAMBWE, Tanzania Daily News
