Ear Syringe: HSA Eligibility

What is an ear syringe?

An ear syringe, also known as a bulb syringe, is a common medical item that is commonly used with newborns, but also holds a variety of everyday uses for adults as well. Ear syringes work by applying pressure to the bulb of the syringe to expel air, which in turn will create suction as the bulb refills with air. This allows users to place the syringe in hard-to-reach places like the nose and ear and apply light suction to remove material from these areas.

How are ear syringes used?

Ear syringes hold many general health uses in the modern home, but they are extremely effective in removing earwax from the inside of ears. Because cotton swabs and other implements have the ability to cause irritation or ear infections, the gentle suction of an ear syringe can remove this material much more easily. Additionally, ear syringes can also be used to remove mucous buildup from the nasal passageways or provide saltwater irrigation to treat nasal inflammation and congestion (Today's Parent).

However, bulb syringes are most commonly used with newborns, as they are a quick and less invasive way of clearing out nasal passageways and ear canals of mucous and wax. These devices are particularly useful in the event that an infant has a cold, as babies do not have the ability to expel this material from their nose and throat and a bulb syringe can clear out these areas without causing discomfort to the infant.

In fact, ear syringes are often one of the first items that hospitals will give to new parents to support the well-being of their newborns for its pivotal role in early child care. These devices hold innumerable medical uses around the home, and parents will particularly find them useful if they or their children are contending with ailments that produce excess mucous, such as the common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza.