Boric alcohol has been used in medicine for a very long time. This drug disinfects damaged skin without irritating it, so it has long been used as an antiseptic solution for washing wounds, cuts, purulent formations, etc. He also found applications in otolaryngology (for otitis media) and ophthalmology (in the treatment of conjunctivitis).
However, the use of this drug is currently limited. Most of you may have heard that boric alcohol is an outdated drug. This is indeed the case.
In the course of numerous studies, the negative effects of boric alcohol on the body have been identified - toxic effects on the liver and kidneys, nervous system, digestive organs and skin.
Dangerous consequences often appear in pediatric patients, as a result of the instillation of an alcoholic solution of boric acid into the child's ear. At the same time, the effectiveness of boric alcohol is very low - in this regard, it is inferior to most modern drugs for the treatment of otitis media.
Let's talk in more detail about the properties of boric alcohol, indications for its use, contraindications and precautions when instilling boric alcohol in the ear of a child and an adult.
Composition and properties of the drug
Boric alcohol is an alcoholic solution of boric acid. It is made on the basis of 70% ethyl alcohol. The concentration of the acid in the solution can vary from 0.5% to 3%.
Boric acid has properties such as:
- antiseptic action;
- fungiostatic (inhibits the vital activity of fungi);
- astringent;
- disrupts metabolism in bacterial cells, inhibits their growth and development;
- inhibits phagocytosis (absorption and digestion of microorganisms by immune cells).
Ethyl alcohol in the composition of the drug also has an antiseptic and astringent effect.
Boric alcohol is absorbed through mucous membranes and skin areas devoid of epithelium (for example, wounds). Once in the blood, boric acid reaches the liver and kidneys. Excretion of this substance from the body is long-term. With regular use, it can accumulate in the cells of your internal organs.
Boric alcohol in the treatment of otitis media
The drug can be prescribed for adults and children over 15 years of age. In the treatment of ear inflammation, 0.5% is used,
1%, 2% and 3% boric acid solutions. In many countries it is forbidden to use solutions with a concentration higher than 1%. Despite these restrictions on the age of the patient and the concentration of the drug, many parents still instill an ethanol solution of 3 percent boric acid in the ear of children. It is absolutely impossible to do this!
This drug is used in two ways: There are two ways to use this drug:
- for ear instillation;
- for impregnation of gauze ear turundas.
Burying is a faster and easier way. The solution is drawn into a pipette and warmed in the palms for a couple of minutes. The drug is injected directly into the patient's ear canal (it is better if he is lying on his side). In this case, the patient's earlobe is slightly pulled back, thus straightening the ear canal. Enough 2-3 drops of the drug in each ear.
Before instillation, it is necessary to make sure that there is no damage to the tympanic membrane. The ingress of the solution into the tympanic cavity threatens with serious consequences, including hearing loss.
Ear turundas are small gauze rolls soaked in medication. A few drops of boric alcohol are applied to the turunda and carefully inserted into the ear canal. Turundas prevent the drug from flowing into the middle ear. The solution from them is gradually absorbed by the skin of the ear canal. Do not leave the turunda in your ear for more than half an hour.
If there is a sulfur plug in the ear, it must be removed before instillation. This can be done at home by washing with 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can also purchase special drops for softening and removing plugs - cerumenolytics. Do not try to remove the plug mechanically, using available means - this is dangerous.
The duration of the course of treatment should not exceed 3-5 days. If there is no improvement in health (or if it worsens), it is recommended to visit an otolaryngologist.
Contraindications and side effects
Boric acid is a poisonous substance. The lethal dose of a pure substance for an adult is 15-20 g, while for a child a dose of only 4-5 g can become lethal.
The danger of using boric alcohol is that it can gradually accumulate in the kidneys. With regular use, there is a risk of reaching a critical concentration of the toxin.
When using the drug, the following side effects can be observed:
- stomach upset;
- diarrhea;
- rash around the ears and on the auricles;
- thinning of the skin of the ear canal;
- headache;
- in severe cases - convulsions, shock, a sharp decrease in the amount of urine, confusion.
If side effects appear, the use of the drug should be discontinued. The likelihood of adverse reactions increases dramatically with prolonged or regular use of this drug. So, with abuse of this solution, symptoms of chronic intoxication can be observed:
- eczema of the ear canal;
- chronic fatigue;
- violation of the menstrual cycle in women;
- swelling of the soft tissues of the ear;
- convulsions;
- baldness;
- anemia.
Due to the toxic effect of the drug, it is contraindicated in:
- pregnancy;
- breastfeeding (including for antiseptic treatment of nipples);
- kidney disease;
- it is forbidden to drip boric alcohol into the ear of children under 15 years old;
- violation of the integrity of the tympanic membrane is also a contraindication.
Conclusions
Boric alcohol is an affordable and popular treatment for ear infections. At the same time, the toxicity of this drug is well known. Given this fact, its use should be limited. So, manufacturers do not recommend using it for children under 15 years old, as well as for pregnant and lactating women.
The effectiveness of this drug as a treatment for otitis media is relatively low. In its ability to destroy bacteria, relieve inflammation and reduce pain, it is inferior to almost any modern ear drops. Considering the serious side effects - toxicity, the ability to accumulate in the kidneys, etc. - patients and doctors are advised to pay attention to safer and more effective medicines for otitis media.
