There is a small chance of triggering a perforation, although perforation of the eardrum may occur without flying. Many parents have inadvertently flown with children with an ear infection without any apparent problems and if the ear infection is mild or under treatment with antibiotics, the child may be able to fly. Discuss with your physician if you have any travel plans at the office visit. The decision may need to be based on the appearance of the eardrum and how sick the child is acting. Ear wax production is normal and healthy, with some people producing more wax than others.
Color can vary from whitish to dark brown.
It acts as protection for the ear canal. It naturally becomes pushed out, but occasionally some people produce so much that it may become impacted in the ear canal. If you see wax around the edge, you may remove it with a washcloth or cotton swab. However, never insert cotton swabs into an ear canal to clean the wax. This only packs the wax in deeper.