human
I've heard that if you have an ear infection, you should avoid using cotton swabs. Is this true?
assistant
Yes, it is true that cotton swabs can be used to clean the ears, but they are not recommended for people with ear infections. Ear infections are caused by bacteria and viruses that live in the ear canal. Cotton swabs can carry these germs into the ear and cause more problems. Instead of using cotton swabs, doctors recommend using a small bulb syringe or a special ear cleaning solution.