Foreign bodies in the ear
Foreign bodies in the ear canal can be anything a child
can push into his/her ear. Some of the items that are commonly found in the ear
canal include the following:
- Food
- Insects
- Toys
- Buttons
- Pieces of crayon
- Small batteries
It is important for parents to be aware that children may cause themselves or
other children harm by placing objects in the ear.
The reason children place things in their ears is usually because they are
bored, curious, or copying other children. Sometimes, one child may put an
object in another child's ear during play. Insects may also crawl into the ear
canal.
Symptoms of foreign bodies in the ear
Some objects placed in the ear may not cause
symptoms, while other objects, such as food and insects, may cause pain in the
ear, redness, or drainage. Small batteries corrode and cause severe irritation
of the ear canal. Hearing may be affected if the object is blocking the ear
canal.
Treatment
The treatment for foreign bodies in the ear
is prompt removal of the object by your child's physician. If the object is
difficult to remove or deep within the ear canal, your doctor will refer you to
an ear specialist (otolaryngologist or ENT).
After removal of the object, your child's physician will then re-examine the
ear to determine if there has been any injury to the ear canal. Antibiotic drops
may be prescribed to treat infection.