A board-certified pediatrician speaks to the nuances of ear infections, and ways to minimize their discomfort and risks.

Earwax, medically known as cerumen, is a substance naturally produced by glands in the ear canal. It serves critical functions: Trapping dust, dirt, bacteria, bugs (really!) and other foreign ...

This creates a feeling that an object is in the ear. Complete blockage (plugging) of the ear canal by wax causes more symptoms. These include decreased or muffled hearing. A large piece of earwax may ...