Earbud bugs? Yuck!
 

I wanted to give everyone a quick reminder to be careful about cleaning and storing earbuds. While I have over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones for flying, I would use earbuds on my daily commute due to the portability factor.

This weekend I went to the doctor for some inner-ear itching and pain. I was shocked to learn that I have a very bad ear infection which was actually causing some minor hearing loss (hopefully temporary).

The doctor told me he commonly sees these sorts of infections in earbud users and advised me to ditch the 'buds. After reading a bit online it looks like he is correct and if people are going to use earbuds they should be very careful about cleaning and storing them. I would not recommend the round of antibiotics and drops I am going to be on to anyone - so please be careful about keeping anything that might go near your ears sparkling clean.

I give mine a dose of hydrogen peroxide every week.

Your ears or your ear buds?

:D

Nothing some alcohol wipes can't take care of, right?

Exactly, alcohol wipes and proper storage (i.e. - don't just throw them in your bag like I was - it doesn't matter how clean they are if you are throwing them back in that thing without at least putting them in a plastic bag).

Are these the in-canal plug kind, or the traditional kind that wedge into the outer ear? (I can't stand the former, and would imagine those require more care as to hygiene)

hmm interesting, I never heard about this before! Thanks for the advice

Hope you'd get well soon. Thanks for the reminder. :)

These were the latter "free-with-iPhone" kind.

Consultette, I don't want to violate your privacy in case there are people on FT who know you in real life, but if you are comfortable responding in public, I would like some specific information so I can follow up with my own otolaryngologist.

1. What is your specific diagnosis? For example, the ear infection that most bothers frequent fliers is acute or serous otitis media.

2. Which bacteria does your doctor think is the cause of the infection, e.g. Haemophilus influenzae?

3. Does your doctor have anything other than a personal conclusion (e.g. a real journal article, not like this page) to suggest that whichever bacteria he or she has in mind can grow either in the ear buds themselves or the case?

4. Have you by any chance contacted Apple or whoever supplied you with the buds?

On the lighter side, I am so glad that my own headset has been approved by a doctor.