- Foreign body in the ear: symptoms
- Foreign body in the ear - first aid. How to remove a foreign body from the ear?
- Foreign body in the ear: when to see a doctor?
A foreign body in the ear is usually found in a young child. The little ones often put various small items into their ear canal, such as beads, toy parts, pebbles and even small batteries. They should be removed as soon as possible, otherwise it may become inflamed or infected. How to remove a foreign body from the ear? What is first aid for a foreign body in the ear?
Foreign body in the earis most often found in young children who put various objects into their ear canals. In adults, foreign bodies fall into the ear accidentally, e.g. during work.
Foreign body in the ear: symptoms
If there is a foreign body in the ear, it usually causes a feeling of pressure, obstruction and pain in the ear (usually with anxiety in a young child). This happens most often when insects fall into the ear, which cause great discomfort with their movements. Occasionally, hearing loss can occur.
In some people, irritation of the ear canal can cause nausea and even vomiting. In extreme cases, bleeding from the ear can be observed, especially if the foreign body is sharp or if the attempt to remove it was incorrect.
Foreign body in the ear - first aid. How to remove a foreign body from the ear?
First, tilt your head and shake it gently. If the foreign body does not fly out and lies shallow, ask a loved one to try to gently remove it with tweezers or tweezers. If you feel pain while removing a foreign body from your ear, stop the procedure immediately to avoid puncture of the eardrum and see a doctor.
If you feel the foreign body is loose, you can remove it from your ear by rinsing the ear canal with warm water. This method is especially recommended when live insects (e.g. midges) have fallen into the ear canal. The water, returning to the end of the ear canal, helps to remove the foreign body to the outside. Another method to removeinsectfromin the earis to put a few drops of neutral fat into the ear canal, e.g. paraffin oil, but never kerosene, gasoline, etc. This way you will help to kill the insect. Then be sure to go to the doctor who will rinse the ear and get the dead one outinsect.
Don't do thatWhen removing objects from the ear, it is not recommended to use a cotton bud as you may inadvertently push the foreign object deep into your ear canal or, worse, break the stick and it also gets stuck in your ear. Also, do not attempt to remove a sharp foreign body yourself - specialized otosurgical tools are required for this.
Foreign body in the ear: when to see a doctor?
You should report to an ENT or emergency room when a foreign body is stuck deep in the ear. In such a situation, its removal is painful and requires surgery under general anesthesia.
General anesthesia is also recommended for children who are often unable to remain calm in such a situation. It is worth knowing that in the case of long-standing foreign bodies, it is necessary to dissect and plasticize the external auditory canal. However, such treatments are rarely performed.