This is the first time I heard that hydrogen peroxide was used for earwax. So, I looked it up in the net. I saw this one...

Most doctors remove earwax with a large irrigation syringe and a straight nozzle. They fill it with warm water and hydrogen peroxide. The doctor injects about 1 or 2 quarts into your ear canal. Your earwax is softened and flushed out. The process feels gentle and refreshing. However, the doctors syringe is not safe for self-use. Below are self-use ear syringes. No peroxide is needed. These only need warm water. Ear surgeons only use warm water. Our syringe has a safety angled nozzle which puts the tip at the beginning of your ear canal, about halfway to your eardrum. The tip can't reach your eardrum. It leaves room for drainage. Your ear canals are cleaned by the quick circulation of warm water. Your eardrums also get cleaned. You're in the comfort of a warm shower when you use the device. It feels gentle and refreshing. It removes all earwax build-up. You'll save time and money on doctors visits. Thousands are in worldwide use since 1994.

here's the site... http://www.earclear.com/

Your son should've used warm water only for personal use. The doctor was wrong I guess in letting your son do the procedure himself.

I kept my son's cellphone ringing for the last 4 hours now checking on his progress. He went to the hospital and was prescribed Amoxiclav and Moxil tablets. He was told that his ear has an infection. I did not know how he did the irrigation or flushing of his ears so I asked him and he said when there are discharges he would use cotton buds to clean them out.

The irony is he is a nursing student. Apparently, he has not encountered or has not been taught anything about medications in his 2nd year in nursing. I pushed him to go see a doctor to find out what went wrong. He thought he can just take the pain and swelling in his ears and go to school tomorrow because he does not want to miss classes.

I have done my share of ear wax removal...ourn method was to take a 60cc syringe...use the plastic tubing off a 20g Iv and use a warm water and peroxide mix....

I wont tell you the disgusting things i have witnessed...LOL

I have used hydrogen peroxide many times to clean my ears. I am also a regular swimmer.

I never used a syringe though. I just take a paper cup with the diluted peroxode in it and squish the top of the cup a little so it sort of looks like a funnel. Then I carefully pour the solution into my ear with my head completely tilted to the side, let the peroxide bubble for a little, then tilt my head back in the other direction and let the peroxide drain from my ear onto a washcloth.

It works wonders everytime and I have never had any problems with this. Perhaps Deb is right about the cotton swabs pushing the wax further into the ear canal.

It sounds like he had 'swimmers ear'. Some people are prone to ear infections.  He probably needs to buy ear plugs, and be consistant with there use when swimming.  Aquaear is a recommendation for swimmers ear, but obviously if an earache persists antibiotics may be required.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/ear/swimmer_ear.html

He had not been to swimming lesson because of the pain and swelling. I t happened before he was able to start swimming. I am very cautious when using Hydrogen Peroxide as it can irritate and burn skin specially the very soft and delicate part of the body like ears.  I panicked when he said he used the liquid in his ears. I told him to go to another doctor and get some prescription for the swelling and infection. He is fine now. He cannot go swimming though, at least, for 2 more weeks. Thanks to you fellow members. I appreciate your input as well as concern. Thanks a lot.

good info

Be careful using certain types of earplugs for swimming. The flange type (they look like little silicone trees) can cause a ruptured eardrum. It happened to me a few years ago. If the earplug makes a really good seal (as it should) and you pull it out too fast or at the wrong angle the suction can rupture your eardrum. IT REALLY FREAKIN" HURTS!!!!