An earful of wax

Q: I am forever fishing large globs of wax out of my ears. If I leave it to gather, as my wife says I should, my ears hurt and I get progressively more deaf. When the wax build up becomes unbearable, the practice nurse syringes them for me. Last time I went, the GP sent me away with a flea in my ear, saying syringing is potentially harmful and not warranted. Is he right?

A: We naturally extrude our ear wax onto our pillows, collars and friends and shouldn't need artificial irrigation to remove it. Using a hearing aid, earplugs or cotton buds will all tend to push wax further into the ear. Syringing is offered by most GP surgeries but there is no evidence that it does more good than harm. I love syringing ears and was distressed to learn that I may be causing ear irritation, dizziness, perforated eardrums, pain and tinnitus. Fancier methods of wax removal involving microscopes, probes, suction and forceps are usually only available in hospital ENT departments and are similarly unproven. Wax softening drops all seem to work fairly well with fewer side effects than syringing. Nearly a third of wax-blocked ears will clear themselves within five days if left alone.

I can't stop him crying

Q: My three-month-old baby is happy and playful all day. At six in the evening, he starts crying and doesn't stop until we all fall asleep exhausted at around midnight. He's putting on weight and has been seen by my GP, health visitor and a paediatrician, all of whom say he's fine! I'm resigned to the fact that it's colic but am worn out, fed up and at my wits' end every evening. Any suggestions?

A: Babies grow out of colic by the age of five months, but parents and carers may take much longer to recover from the strain and sleeplessness. Any baby can get colic, which is defined as crying that lasts over three hours at least three times a week in an otherwise healthy baby. Experts don't know what causes colic - some say it's just that some babies cry more than others and it's no more abnormal than babies who happen to cry very little. That can't be much comfort to parents who are unlucky enough to give birth to the noisier end of the standard distribution curve. Other possibilities are that your baby has painful gut contractions, gas or lactose intolerance. Soya milk instead of cow's milk formula helps some babies but cutting out dairy products such as fromage frais hasn't been shown to make much difference. Anti-colic drug dicyclomine can be helpful but once you read the potential side effects (constipation, diarrhoea and, rarely, breathing difficulties, seizures and even coma) you're unlikely to give it regularly if at all. Old fashioned sugar solution was soothing in one trial and a herbal tea containing camomile, vervain, licorice, fennel and balm mint was even better. It may help to stimulate your baby less with less winding, jiggling and lifting. Driving him round in the car, carrying him round all day and giving him a dummy probably won't help. Baby massage, cranial osteopathy and homeopathy may help to soothe you and, hopefully, your baby.

Marfan's syndrome

Q: My sister died of heart disease when she was young and we were told many years later that she had Marfan's syndrome. Is this inherited and do I need to worry?

A:You don't necessarily need to worry but you do need some expert help from a specialist. Marfan's syndrome is a genetic condition in which the connective tissue of the body, which is an important structural component in all organs, is abnormally weak and elastic. Marfan's is rare, affecting about 1 in 10,000 people, and can be mild or cause serious problems such as your sister had. Most people with Marfan's syndrome live full lives with few restrictions. People with Marfan's syndrome are characteristically tall, slim, have long and spindly fingers and toes and are often "double jointed". The main problem can arise in the heart with leaky valves and widening of the aorta, which can tear and cause sudden and early death. An examination, tests on the heart and genetic tests are wise for all members of the family as early diagnosis can help to control complications. For more information contact the Marfan Association, 6 Queens Rd, Farnborough, Hants GU14 6DH (01252-810472).

These answers are intended to be as accurate and full as possible, but should never be used as a substitute for visiting a doctor and seeking medical help. If you have a question for Dr Robinson, email drann@dircon.co.uk or write to her c/o The Health Editor, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. She regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence.