Man develops killer BRAIN infection after using cotton buds to clean his ears
The 31-year-old was rushed to hospital in Coventry when he suffered a seizure and collapsed
A MAN was left battling a deadly brain infection after using cotton buds to clean his ears.
Doctors believe part of a bud got lodged in the man's ear five years before he collapsed and suffered a fit.
The unnamed 31-year-old was rushed to A&E in Coventry after falling unconscious.
Medics discovered he had a bacterial infection, that started in his ear before spreading to the bone at the base of his skull, before infecting the lining of his brain.
Headaches plagued patient for days before collapse
Dr Alexander Charlton, one of the specialists treating the patient, said he started suffering dangerous neurological symptoms.
The patient was rushed to hospital ten days after he noticed pain and discharge from his left ear.
The patient spent a week in hospital before taking two months of antibiotics to wipe out the infection.
Unsurprisingly, he was told never to use ear buds again.
Dr Charlton said: "At the completion of his course of antibiotics, the patient remained well with no neurological deficit and no ear symptoms.
"Most importantly, he is no longer using cotton buds to clean his ears."
And added they've been linked to ear infections, punctured ear drums and impacted ear wax.
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