Fortunately, problems such as a foreign body in the ear are rare. But it is this, seemingly simple, situation that sometimes leads to the most unpredictable consequences, since many simply do not know how to get a foreign body out of the ear and at the same time not injure themselves even more. Understanding how to behave correctly will help avoid additional trauma and solve the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Foreign body in children
Most often, foreign bodies enter children's ears. Most often, the problem occurs in babies left unattended. Children are not yet aware of the danger, so various small objects can periodically end up in the nose, auricle and even the respiratory tract. What doctors do not extract from a child's ear: buttons, small parts of toys, coins, grains and beads, cell batteries and much more.
It is not always possible to determine the presence of a foreign body in a child's ear immediately. Children under 2 years old usually cannot tell about it. And older kids are often afraid to admit, fearing that their mother will scold them. Therefore, the main symptom is the unpredictable or unusual behavior of the child, who may suddenly start:
- cry for no apparent reason;
- shake your head from side to side;
- refuse to lie down on some side;
- constantly picking your ear with your finger.
Also, the mother should be alerted to a sudden decrease in the child's hearing acuity, which can be caused by a sulfur plug or such a foreign body that does not cause pain and anxiety, but partially or completely blocks the ear canal.
Causes and symptoms in adults
Situations in which foreign bodies of the ear disturb adults are less common. Most often this happens through negligence or in non-standard circumstances:
- cotton wool remains in the ear canal when cleaning;
- debris or sand gets in in a strong wind;
- small insects crawl during sleep;
- larvae or small leeches penetrate the ear when bathing.
It also happens that other small objects accidentally fall into the ear canal. In some cases, they are smooth, lightweight and do not cause any disturbance. Then the sensation of a foreign body in the ear is expressed only in its congestion and unexpected hearing loss.
These situations are most dangerous, as trying to clear your ear to improve hearing can inadvertently push the object further in and even damage your eardrum.
Foreign body classification
All foreign bodies that can somehow get into the ear canal can be divided into three main groups.
- Sulfur plug. Formed by irregular or improper ear care. It thickens and gradually completely blocks the ear canal. At first, her presence is absolutely imperceptible, but over time, hearing begins to gradually decrease. If the plug is deep and presses on the eardrum, then there is an ear, and later a headache. Deterioration of blood circulation can provoke inflammation in the middle ear.
- Living foreign body. These are crawling, floating and flying small insects and their larvae. Most often they get into the ear while sleeping or diving. This feeling cannot be confused with anything, since the trapped insect begins to rush about, touching the eardrum, causing pain and unpleasantly scratching inside the ear. Worst of all, the insect is capable of biting or stinging. Then inflammation and / or an allergic reaction can be connected to unpleasant symptoms.
- Inanimate foreign body. Usually it gets into the ear of an adult due to stupidity, negligence or accidental coincidence. It is unlikely that someone will deliberately put corn or peas and other inanimate objects into their ears. But during cleaning, a match may accidentally break, leaving used cotton wool. Or, while relaxing on an unequipped beach, sand and small pieces of shells get into your ears.
In most cases, foreign bodies that have fallen deep into the ear canal and are stuck there should not be removed on their own. Such amateur performance is fraught with a number of very unpleasant consequences. But it is not worth delaying its extraction either, since the likelihood of complications increases every day.
Possible complications
A foreign body trapped in the ear not only blocks the ear canal. It is a breeding ground for infections that cause inflammation and suppuration in the middle ear over time. Grains of plants, due to being in a humid environment, gradually swell, squeezing the inner parts of the ear and disrupting normal blood flow. It becomes more and more difficult to extract them.
Foreign bodies with sharp and uneven edges scratch the inner walls of the ear canal and can damage the eardrum. In addition, an infection also gets into the wounds, which spreads through the blood throughout the body. This can cause inflammation of the lymph nodes and even blood poisoning.
A characteristic sign of an infection in the ear is a strong unpleasant odor, which is felt even at some distance from the patient.
Small batteries trapped in the ear are especially dangerous. Once in a humid environment that is perfectly conductive, they continue to work and can cause damage and even necrosis of the ear tissues. But non-working batteries are no less dangerous. When left in the ear for a long time, they oxidize and cause severe irritation and tissue damage. It's almost impossible to extract them yourself, so it's best to go to the hospital as soon as possible.
Removal methods
The way how to remove a foreign body from the ear depends 100% on what exactly was inside. Only a qualified specialist can do this safely and painlessly. Therefore, if a foreign object is not visible to the naked eye and it was not possible to remove it with tweezers on your own, you should immediately go to the doctor.
Insects caught in the ear are a special case. This often happens on country trips or hikes where prompt medical attention is not available. And a living insect is very disturbing. Therefore, it must be killed as soon as possible, or at least immobilized.
This can be done by pouring a few drops of medical alcohol, vodka, sunflower oil or liquid petroleum jelly into the ear opening. You can then try rinsing your ear with water. If the insect does not come out on its own, you still have to see a doctor.
The easiest way to rid a patient of a foreign body is to get it out with tweezers. This is what the doctor does in most cases. He easily succeeds as he has at his disposal a wide variety of specially adapted instruments with rounded ends, which reduce the possibility of injury to the ear and at the same time prevent the object from sliding back. After removing the object, the doctor conducts a thorough examination and, if necessary, treats the ear with an antiseptic solution and prescribes anti-inflammatory drops.
In some cases, rinsing has to be done. The procedure is not very pleasant, but effective. Sometimes it is the only way to get rid of the compacted sulfur plug. Before starting the procedure, the external auditory canal is thoroughly cleansed. Then a solution of hydrogen peroxide is poured into the ear, which is left there for a while to soften the plug. After that, water is drawn into a large syringe, heated to body temperature and poured under pressure into the tilted ear.
In rare cases, when a foreign body is stuck in the ear so that it is not possible to remove it through the external auditory canal, it is necessary to resort to surgery.
Before it begins, an X-ray must be taken to clarify the location of the object. Then, under general or local anesthesia, a small incision is made behind the auricle, through which the foreign body is removed, and cosmetic self-absorbable sutures are applied.
Preventive measures
The problem of getting a foreign body in the ear is easier to prevent than to solve. Moreover, the most simple precautions can reduce the likelihood of this trouble to almost zero. All you need to do is:
- do not leave small children (under 2 years old) unattended;
- do not allow children under 6-7 years old to play with a construction set and toys with small parts;
- tell your child what happens if something gets in the nose or ears;
- when sleeping outdoors without a mosquito net, cover your ears with earplugs or cotton swabs;
- regularly monitor the cleanliness of the ear canal, freeing it from excess sulfur;
- clean your ears only with cotton swabs specially designed for this;
- after diving in open water (especially a river or lake!), be sure to remove the remaining water with cotton swabs.
If it was not possible to avoid getting a foreign body into the ear and quickly pull it out on your own, you have to go to a medical facility. Any attempt to unprofessionally remove a deeply stuck object can have serious consequences.
