News Flash
Borun Kumar Dash and Abdur Rouf
DHAKA, Nov 16, 2025 (BSS) - The use of cotton buds or various objects to clean earwax, neglecting minor colds, and overall lack of awareness are increasing ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases in the country. Even ordinary colds can cause perforated eardrums in children, leading to hearing loss and, in some cases, brain infections or abscesses.
Dr Md Asadur Rahman, Professor and Head of the ENT Department at Dhaka Medical College (DMC), said this in an exclusive interview with BSS.
He said that because of people's lack of awareness and poverty, many ENT-related diseases become complicated, as patients often do not seek treatment at the early stages.
Asked why the number of ENT patients is increasing in the country, Prof Asadur Rahman said, "Our country's context is different. Most people here are poor and unaware. Due to this lack of awareness and poverty, many diseases go unnoticed in the early stages. When the disease becomes severe, there is often nothing much we can do."
Speaking about ear care, he said, "The ear is a vital part of our sensory system. Only those who cannot hear understand the true value of hearing. Many people use whatever object they find at hand to scratch or clean their ears. But our ears are designed in such a way that earwax removes itself naturally. It does not require any external help."
He added, "There are exceptions. Not everyone's ears are the same. Some people have a structure where earwax does not come out easily - this is very rare, occurring in only about four or five out of a hundred people. In such cases, instead of scratching, they should consult a good doctor. The skin inside the ear is very thin, and even a slight scratch can tear it. If the skin gets infected, the problem worsens."
Speaking about children's ear problems, Dr. Rahman said, "Children often catch colds. A child typically gets colds four to five times a year, which can lead to ear problems. Usually, this is a viral disease - it gets better in seven days with or without treatment. But treatment reduces symptoms. There is a narrow passage between the nose and ear. When mucus accumulates in the nose, this passage becomes blocked. As a result, the ear hurts, pus builds up, and sometimes the eardrum bursts, causing discharge - which we call 'ear infection'."
Warning people to be cautious about ENT issues, he said, "Many think these problems will resolve on their own. But people with low immunity - especially children, elderly individuals, or diabetic patients - can develop perforated eardrums from such colds. Ear infections can even spread to the brain and cause abscesses, which can be life-threatening. So, even minor ear or nose symptoms should not be ignored; a doctor should be consulted quickly."
Regarding cochlear implants for children born deaf, Dr. Rahman said, "Children who are born deaf and cannot hear even with hearing aids are given a cochlear implant. This surgery has been performed in Bangladesh for several years.
Although it stopped for some time, we resumed it at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on 10 November. The necessary device is supplied free of cost by the Ministry of Social Welfare. The condition is that children under five who cannot hear even with hearing aids, and come from poor families will receive the operation completely free. This free service is available at DMCH, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), and the National Institute of ENT."
In response to a question about whether ENT services are sufficient across the country, he said, "It is like the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. When it was a two-lane road, traffic jams were severe. After expansion to four lanes, we realized it needed to be expanded further. Similarly, although our healthcare system has improved, public demand has increased even more. Now there are ENT specialists in almost every upazila, which increases diagnosis rates. It may seem like patient numbers have increased, but the reality is we still don't have enough ENT specialists compared to the number of patients."
Discussing the shortage of specialized hospitals, he said, "In Dhaka, there is only one government ENT hospital and a few private ones. Cities in the Chattogram or Barishal divisions still do not have any specialized ENT hospitals. If a patient from Dinajpur has a severe ear condition that might lead to a brain abscess, it is not always possible for them to come to Dhaka. So I believe each divisional city urgently needs a specialized ENT hospital."
He also mentioned gaps in medical training: "Government doctors in Bangladesh are not given official opportunities to receive training abroad. If someone wants to go abroad using their own money, they often struggle to even get leave. They have to run around for approval. Apart from this coordination issue, we are also behind in equipment and technology."
Finally, offering health awareness advice, Dr Rahman said, "Do not use cotton buds or any object to poke your ears. Do not neglect colds - consult a doctor. If the eardrum is perforated, avoid swimming or diving and seek treatment quickly to repair it. If children have tonsil or adenoid problems, snore at night, or sleep with their mouths open, they must see a doctor. When they sleep with their mouths open, the brain does not get enough oxygen, which hampers normal brain development."
Advising people to avoid smoking and tobacco, he added, "Tobacco harms everything from head to toe. If your voice becomes hoarse and does not improve within two to three weeks, see a doctor immediately - it may be a sign of laryngeal cancer. If diagnosed early, most cancer patients recover. With regular care, awareness and timely treatment, it is possible to avoid all ENT-related complications and serious diseases."
