Tissue Stuck in Ear: Expert Guide to Safely Removing Foreign Objects
How can you safely remove tissue stuck in your ear. What are the risks of leaving objects in the ear canal. When should you seek medical help for an object lodged in the ear. What home remedies are safe for removing foreign objects from ears. How do doctors extract items from the ear canal.
Understanding the Dangers of Foreign Objects in the Ear
When tissue or any other foreign object becomes lodged in the ear canal, it can lead to various complications if not addressed promptly. The presence of an object in the ear can cause discomfort, pain, and even potential damage to the delicate structures within the ear.
Foreign objects in the ear can be particularly concerning for several reasons:
- They can block sound waves, potentially causing temporary hearing loss
- Objects may irritate the ear canal, leading to inflammation or infection
- Sharp items could puncture the eardrum, resulting in more severe complications
- Organic materials like food or plant matter can absorb moisture and expand, making removal more difficult
Is it common for people to get objects stuck in their ears? While it may seem unusual, it’s actually a relatively common occurrence, especially among children. Adults can also experience this problem, often when using cotton swabs or other items to clean their ears.
Identifying Symptoms of an Object Stuck in the Ear
Recognizing the signs that something is lodged in your ear is crucial for prompt action. Common symptoms include:
- Ear pain or discomfort
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Muffled hearing or partial hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Drainage or bleeding from the ear canal
Can an object in the ear cause long-term damage if left untreated? Yes, leaving a foreign object in the ear for an extended period can lead to serious complications, including chronic ear infections, permanent hearing loss, or damage to the eardrum and other structures within the ear.
Safe Home Remedies for Removing Objects from the Ear
While it’s always best to seek professional medical help, there are some safe methods you can try at home to remove an object from your ear:
- Tilt your head to the side with the affected ear facing downward
- Gently pull the earlobe back and forth to dislodge the object
- Use warm water to flush out the ear canal (only if you’re certain the eardrum is intact)
- Try using gravity by jumping up and down while tilting your head
Is it safe to use tweezers to remove objects from the ear? Using tweezers or other tools to remove objects from the ear is generally not recommended, as it can push the object further into the ear canal or cause damage to the delicate structures within the ear.
When to Seek Medical Attention for an Object in the Ear
While some minor cases can be resolved at home, there are situations where professional medical help is necessary. Seek immediate medical attention if:
- The object is a button battery, which can cause severe damage quickly
- There is bleeding or discharge from the ear
- You experience severe pain or complete hearing loss
- The object is deeply lodged and cannot be easily removed
- You suspect the eardrum may be perforated
How quickly should you seek medical help for an object stuck in the ear? If home remedies don’t work or if you’re experiencing severe symptoms, it’s best to seek medical attention within 24 hours to prevent potential complications.
Professional Techniques for Removing Objects from the Ear
Healthcare professionals have various tools and techniques at their disposal to safely remove objects from the ear canal:
- Specialized forceps or hooks designed for ear object removal
- Suction devices to extract small or soft objects
- Irrigation with warm water to flush out the ear canal
- Microscopes for better visualization during the procedure
What is the success rate of professional object removal from the ear? In the hands of experienced healthcare providers, the success rate for removing objects from the ear is very high, with most cases resolved without complications.
The Importance of Professional Ear Cleaning
Regular professional ear cleaning can help prevent objects from becoming stuck in the ear canal. Some benefits of professional ear cleaning include:
- Removal of excess earwax buildup
- Early detection of ear canal abnormalities
- Reduced risk of ear infections
- Improved hearing clarity
Preventing Objects from Getting Stuck in the Ear
Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips to avoid getting objects stuck in your ear:
- Avoid inserting any objects into your ear canal, including cotton swabs
- Use earplugs properly when swimming or in noisy environments
- Keep small objects away from children who might be tempted to insert them into their ears
- Be cautious when using in-ear headphones or hearing aids
How often should you clean your ears to prevent objects from getting stuck? Ears are self-cleaning organs, and excessive cleaning can actually increase the risk of objects becoming lodged in the ear canal. It’s generally recommended to clean the outer ear only, using a damp cloth.
The Risks of DIY Ear Object Removal
While it may be tempting to try and remove an object from your ear yourself, there are significant risks associated with DIY removal attempts:
- Pushing the object further into the ear canal
- Damaging the delicate skin lining the ear canal
- Puncturing the eardrum
- Causing infection due to introducing bacteria
- Worsening the situation by breaking or fragmenting the object
Can attempting to remove an object from your ear at home cause permanent damage? Yes, improper attempts to remove objects from the ear can lead to permanent damage, including hearing loss, chronic pain, or balance issues.
The Anatomy of the Ear and Its Vulnerability
Understanding the structure of the ear helps illustrate why it’s so susceptible to damage from foreign objects:
- The ear canal is lined with delicate skin and small hairs
- The eardrum is a thin, sensitive membrane at the end of the ear canal
- The middle ear contains tiny bones crucial for hearing
- The inner ear houses the cochlea and balance-regulating structures
Long-Term Effects of Untreated Foreign Objects in the Ear
Leaving a foreign object in the ear for an extended period can have serious consequences:
- Chronic ear infections
- Permanent hearing loss
- Eardrum perforation
- Balance disorders
- Tinnitus (persistent ringing in the ears)
How long can an object remain in the ear before causing permanent damage? The timeline for permanent damage varies depending on the object and individual circumstances. However, seeking prompt medical attention within 24-48 hours is crucial to minimize the risk of long-term complications.
The Psychological Impact of Ear Discomfort
Dealing with an object stuck in the ear can have psychological effects beyond the physical discomfort:
- Anxiety and stress from the sensation of a foreign object
- Frustration and irritability due to hearing impairment
- Sleep disturbances from discomfort or tinnitus
- Social withdrawal if the problem persists
Specialized Cases: Objects in Children’s Ears
Children are particularly prone to getting objects stuck in their ears. Special considerations for pediatric cases include:
- Smaller ear canals make object removal more challenging
- Children may be less cooperative during examination and removal procedures
- The risk of complications is higher due to the delicate nature of children’s ears
- Parents should be vigilant about small objects that children might insert into their ears
Are there specific objects that children are more likely to put in their ears? Common objects found in children’s ears include beads, small toy parts, food items like peas or beans, and insects.
Educating Children About Ear Safety
Preventing objects from entering children’s ears starts with education. Parents and caregivers should:
- Teach children about the importance of not putting objects in their ears
- Explain the potential consequences of such actions
- Encourage children to speak up if they experience ear discomfort
- Model good ear care habits
Innovative Technologies in Ear Object Removal
Advancements in medical technology have improved the process of removing objects from the ear:
- High-definition endoscopes for better visualization
- 3D-printed tools customized for specific object shapes
- Ultrasound-guided removal techniques
- Robotic assistance for precision in delicate cases
How have technological advancements improved the success rate of ear object removal? Modern technologies have significantly increased the success rate of object removal while reducing the risk of complications, making the procedure safer and more efficient.
The Future of Ear Care and Object Removal
Looking ahead, we can expect further innovations in ear care and object removal:
- AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment planning
- Nano-robots for minimally invasive object retrieval
- Advanced imaging techniques for real-time guidance during procedures
- Biodegradable materials for safer ear cleaning tools
The Role of Earwax in Object Entrapment
Earwax, while generally beneficial, can sometimes contribute to objects becoming stuck in the ear:
- Excess earwax can trap small objects, making them harder to remove
- The sticky nature of earwax can cause objects to adhere to the ear canal
- Attempts to clean excess earwax can accidentally push objects deeper into the ear
Does earwax serve a purpose, or should it be regularly removed? Earwax serves several important functions, including protecting the ear from dust, debris, and bacteria. Regular removal is usually unnecessary and can be counterproductive.
Proper Ear Hygiene Practices
Maintaining proper ear hygiene can help prevent object entrapment and other ear-related issues:
- Clean only the outer part of the ear with a damp cloth
- Avoid using cotton swabs or other objects to clean inside the ear canal
- Allow earwax to naturally work its way out of the ear
- Use ear drops to soften excessive earwax if recommended by a healthcare provider
Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Ear Object Removal
The practice of removing objects from ears has a long and varied history across different cultures:
- Ancient civilizations used various tools and techniques for ear cleaning and object removal
- Traditional medicine in some cultures incorporates ear candling, though its effectiveness is disputed
- Modern Western medicine has standardized safe practices for ear object removal
- Some cultures have specific rituals or beliefs related to ear care and hygiene
Have historical ear cleaning practices influenced modern techniques? While many historical practices have been discarded due to safety concerns, some traditional methods have inspired modern, safer alternatives for ear care and object removal.
The Evolution of Ear Care Tools
The tools used for ear care and object removal have evolved significantly over time:
- Ancient ear spoons and picks have given way to safer, specialized medical instruments
- The invention of the otoscope in the 19th century revolutionized ear examinations
- Modern micro-suction devices provide a gentler alternative to traditional irrigation methods
- Disposable, single-use tools have improved hygiene and reduced the risk of cross-contamination
Legal and Ethical Considerations in Ear Object Removal
The removal of objects from ears involves various legal and ethical considerations:
- Healthcare providers must obtain informed consent before performing procedures
- There are specific guidelines for treating minors and individuals unable to give consent
- Proper documentation is crucial for medical and legal purposes
- Ethical considerations come into play when deciding between different treatment options
What are the potential legal consequences of attempting to remove an object from someone else’s ear without proper training? Attempting to remove an object from someone else’s ear without proper medical training can lead to legal liability if injury occurs, potentially resulting in malpractice claims or criminal charges.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Both healthcare providers and patients have rights and responsibilities when it comes to ear care and object removal:
- Patients have the right to receive clear information about their condition and treatment options
- Healthcare providers must respect patient autonomy and preferences
- Patients are responsible for providing accurate medical history and following aftercare instructions
- Healthcare providers must maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional standards
Objects in the Ear | Cigna
Do you have an ear problem caused by an object in the ear?
Yes
Ear problem from an object in ear
No
Ear problem from an object in ear
How old are you?
Less than 12 years
Less than 12 years
12 years or older
12 years or older
Are you male or female?
Why do we ask this question?
- If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
- If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
- If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.
Can you remove the battery from the ear?
You can use tweezers for this.
Yes
Able to remove disc battery from ear
No
Not able to remove disc battery from ear
Is there any drainage or bleeding from the ear?
Yes
Drainage or bleeding from ear
No
Drainage or bleeding from ear
Is any food or plant matter stuck in the ear?
Plants and foods (especially foods like beans or popcorn) can soak up moisture in the ear and get bigger. They need to be removed right away.
Yes
Pieces of food or plant stuck in ear
No
Pieces of food or plant stuck in ear
Is there any pain in the ear?
Is the pain severe?
Severe means that the pain is so bad that you can’t stand it for more than a few hours, can’t sleep, and can’t do anything else except focus on the pain.
Do you have any new hearing loss?
Was the hearing loss sudden and complete?
Yes
Sudden and complete hearing loss
No
Sudden and complete hearing loss
Is the dizziness severe?
Severe means that you are so dizzy that you need help to stand or walk.
Do you think you may have an ear infection?
Pain and discharge from the ear are the usual symptoms of infection.
Yes
Possible ear infection
No
Possible ear infection
Do you have diabetes or a weakened immune system?
What weakens the immune system in an adult or older child may be different than in a young child or baby.
Yes
Diabetes or immune problem
No
Diabetes or immune problem
Has an object been stuck in the ear for more than 24 hours (1 full day)?
Yes
Object stuck in ear for more than 24 hours
No
Object stuck in ear for more than 24 hours
Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:
- Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
- Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
- Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
- Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
- Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.
Try Home Treatment
You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.
- Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
- Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.
Disc batteries are small, round batteries used in toys, cameras, watches, and other devices. Because of the chemicals they can release, they can cause serious problems if they are swallowed or get stuck in an ear or the nose. Small magnets used in household items and objects that contain a lot of lead (such as bullets, buckshot, fishing weights and sinkers, and some toys) also can cause problems if swallowed.
- If a disc battery is stuck in the ear or nose:
- The battery needs to be removed right away—within 1 hour if possible.
- Use tweezers to try to remove the battery. If you can’t remove it, get medical help.
- If you have swallowed a disc battery, magnet, or lead object:
- Get medical help right away.
- Do not try to vomit.
- Do not eat or drink anything.
Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:
- Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
- Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
- Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
- Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
- Medicines taken after organ transplant.
- Not having a spleen.
Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in children are:
- Diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and congenital heart disease.
- Steroid medicines, which are used to treat a variety of conditions.
- Medicines taken after organ transplant.
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
- Not having a spleen.
Seek Care Now
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
- Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
- You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
- You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
- You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.
Seek Care Today
Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
- Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
- If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
- If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.
Cotton swab stuck in ear led man to suffer seizures, skull infection
A man who apparently lived with a cotton bud stuck in his ear for years before it led to a dangerous infection is highlighting the risk of cleaning ears with swabs.
Doctors recently described his ordeal in BMJ Case Reports, calling it the first known example of a lodged cotton swab leading to a necrotizing infection inside a person’s skull.
The mystery began when an ambulance rushed the 31-year-old unnamed man to a hospital in Coventry, England, after he suddenly experienced seizures and collapsed.
He’d been previously healthy, except for on-and-off pain and hearing loss in his left ear for the past five years that led his primary care doctor to prescribe antibiotics for a “severe ear infection.”
Four days before his collapse, the pain escalated to headaches on the left side of his head, plus nausea and vomiting. He’d also been more forgetful about names in recent days, he said afterwards.
Scans of his head revealed two abscesses — pockets of pus — between the surface of his brain and the protective membrane that surrounds it, the dura. His left ear canal was filled with “soft-tissue density material,” so doctors explored it while the man was under general anesthesia and found an impacted cotton bud.
He was diagnosed with necrotizing otitis externa, an infection that starts in the soft tissues of the ear canal and spreads to the surrounding bone. The condition is traditionally seen in elderly people with diabetes or a compromised immune system.
Doctors removed the cotton bud, cleaned his ear canal and treated the patient with antibiotics. All traces of the infection vanished after 10 weeks and the man remains well, without any lingering neurological problems or ear symptoms.
“Most importantly, he is no longer using cotton buds to clean his ears!” the authors wrote, adding the case “further reiterates the dangers of cotton bud use. ”
Days before the patient’s collapse, the ear pain escalated to headaches.Courtesy BMJ Case Reports
Step away from the Q-tip
The American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery warns against using cotton swabs to clean ears because they often just push the wax deeper into the ear and may worsen the situation.
As a basic rule, don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear, the group advised. Items like cotton swabs, hair pins and toothpicks can lead to a cut in the ear canal or a hole in the eardrum. They could dislocate the hearing bones, leading to hearing loss, dizziness and ringing in the ear.
It’s not ever necessary to clean within the ear canal, though it’s fine to wipe away ear wax from the outer portion of the ear with a tissue or wash cloth, said Dr. Seth Schwartz, an otologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. He helped write the AAO-HNSF’s best practices for the treatment of ear wax buildup and blockage.
“People think of wax as being unhealthy, like they don’t want wax in their ears,” Schwartz told TODAY. “But ear wax is actually a healthy part of the ear, it’s the natural substance that occurs from the body’s self-cleaning mechanism.The body is sweeping away dead skin and debris from the ear canal and it will migrate out.”
Despite years of warnings, cotton swabs send thousands of kids to the hospital each year, a 2017 report found. More than 263,000 children in the U.S. were treated in emergency rooms for ear injuries related to cotton-tip applicators between 1990 and 2010.
“There’s this misconception that people need to clean their ears in the home setting and that this is the product to do that with,” Dr. Kris Jatana, senior author of the study and a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, told TODAY.
“The ears themselves are typically self-cleaning… It is risky to use cotton-tip applicators in the ear canal across all age groups, and certainly we are seeing way too many injuries as a result of this practice.”
A. Pawlowski is a TODAY senior contributing editor focusing on health news and features. Previously, she was a writer, producer and editor at CNN.
what-to-do-if-something-enters-your-ear | Signia
A q-tip shoved in too far, a small stone getting trapped or a bug crawling about in your ear canal — these sound like worrying issues. Even the thought can unnerve you, so what do you do if they actually happen? Staying calm and knowing what to do in the case of an aural emergency is top priority. Panicking or further injuring yourself can cause more issues, and the last thing you want is to damage your hearing.
While it’s difficult to prepare for every emergency, you can try to make a game plan for potential disasters. A bug or foreign object inside the ear might sound like a far-off, impossible event, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here’s some information on how to remove a foreign object, and what to do if an insect finds its way into your ear.
There Is Something Stuck In My Ear
If you have an accident or find out that your child has done something reckless, you might feel panicked. However, many children and adults end up in hospital rooms with objects in their ears. It is more common among children, since they don’t have the awareness to process the potential danger. They might stick objects, food, or other types of foreign manner in the mouths, nose, and ears.
In fact, the most common objects found in ears are beads, paper, buttons, foods like beans, and even rubber erasers. If it is small enough to fit, your child might attempt it. Adults might end up with rocks, q-tips, or bobby pins stuck in their ears.
Small batteries, like hearing aid batteries, can become stuck in the ear if a child places them there. These are more serious, as the batteries can corrode or leak into the ear, causing damage. Head to the emergency room as soon as possible, even if you manage to dislodge the object. A check-up is necessary to make sure no damage has occurred.
While you might feel tempted to remove the object yourself, you should avoid doing so unless it’s painless and safe to do so. For example, if it is possible to painlessly pluck the object out, you can do so carefully. However, if the object is lodged inside or requires forceps to remove, do not attempt it. You could shove the object further in or damage the inner ear. Never insert other objects into your ear in an attempt to dislodge foreign matter.
Medical staff are trained to remove foreign objects from the ear, and have the equipment to do so. While it might seem like a hassle to go to the emergency room, you might be saving your hearing or the hearing of your child. The situations are common, especially in children, and many are harmless when handled correctly. However, if you exacerbate the issue, your hearing organs could be damaged.
Something In My Ear Is Moving?
This can be a seriously frightening experience, especially for a child. It is not unheard of for bugs to crawl inside people’s mouths, nostrils, and ears. In some situations, they can even become stuck in your ear. While the sound and sensation might cause you to panic, it’s important that you remain calm. Vigorously shaking your head or smacking at your ears might cause the bug to burrow deeper, sting, bite, or pinch you.
First, you should encourage the bug to crawl out on its own. Sit with your head tipped to encourage the bug’s exit, and straighten your ear to open the canal wide. Then, sit still for anywhere from five to ten minutes, occasionally shaking your head gently. If you can, hold a cup under your head to catch the bug for identification. If the bug does not leave, you can ask someone to shine a light into your ear. This might draw them out. However, if the insect begins to burrow deeper at the sight of light, turn the flashlight off immediately.
To avoid damage, try pouring oil into the ear to kill the bug. Mineral, baby, and olive oil are options. Once the bug is dead, you can try rinsing it out. Do not attempt this if you have a history of ear problems — you could cause more serious issues in the process. Do not try to remove the bug with tweezers or q-tips. You could shove it further inside, anger it, or damage your eardrum. If you can, simply head to the hospital for the removal process. They will kill the bug with lidocaine or another substance, and remove it from your ear canal.
If the bug has bitten, stung, or pinched you, head to the emergency room immediately. Even if you get the bug out, you need medical care. They will likely administer antibiotics and other medications to reduce swelling and prevent infection. While this is a traumatic experience, it is not as uncommon as you think. Many hospitals have seen people come in with cockroaches, ants, and other bugs stuck in the ear. Just stay calm, and focus on making rational decisions. If you are alone or feel too frightened to attempt removal yourself, call someone to take you to the hospital.
Hearing Loss Caused By Foreign Objects
Getting something stuck in your ear can be a relatively harmless situation, especially if it’s handled carefully and wisely. As long as the object has not torn or ruptured the eardrum, the body will heal. Even if the eardrum has been somewhat damaged, it should heal fairly well. However, there is always a chance of hearing damage when something is shoved in the ear canal. For that reason, it’s important that you minimize the possibility of hearing loss.
As mentioned above, do not stick anything else into the ear, and do not pour oil, water, or alcohol in the ear if you have a history of aural problems. Many harmless cases of foreign objects in the ear have been exacerbated or made worse by untrained interference. People end up hurting themselves to avoid hospital visits, and parents might harm their children while trying to help them.
For that reason, it’s important that you seek medical help. Money, time, and hassle are nothing compared to your sense of hearing. You only have one set of ears, so do your best to care for them.
You cannot predict problems like this, but you can attempt to avoid them. Do not let small children play with beads, certain toys, beans, or other small objects. If it can classify as a choking hazard or fit inside the ear easily, do not give it to them. Avoid leaving children unattended with food.
Adults should avoid using q-tips and bobby pins to remove earwax. Movements of the jaw will remove earwax naturally, and buildups can be removed by a professional. If you have a problem with small bugs in your home, call an exterminator. Those who camp or sleep outside regularly should always sleep with earplugs to avoid insects wandering into their ears.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to care for your ears, consider putting yourself in the aural health loop. The Signia newsletter will give you regular updates on articles about ears, hearing loss, and other information.
Foreign Bodies in the Ear, Nose, and Throat
1. DiMuzio J Jr,
Deschler DG.
Emergency department management of foreign bodies of the external ear canal in children. Otol Neurotol.
2002;23:473–5….
2. Ansley JF,
Cunningham MJ.
Treatment of aural foreign bodies in children. Pediatrics.
1998;101(4 pt 1):638–41.
3. Thompson SK,
Wein RO,
Dutcher PO.
External auditory canal foreign body removal: management practices and outcomes. Laryngoscope.
2003;113:1912–5.
4. White SJ,
Broner S.
The use of acetone to dissolve a Styrofoam impaction of the ear. Ann Emerg Med.
1994; 23:580–2.
5. Chan TC,
Ufberg J,
Harrigan RA,
Vilke GM.
Nasal foreign body removal. J Emerg Med.
2004;26:441–5.
6. Kalan A,
Tariq M.
Foreign bodies in the nasal cavities: a comprehensive review of the aetiology, diagnostic pointers, and therapeutic measures. Postgrad Med J.
2000;76:484–7.
7. Fox JR.
Fogarty catheter removal of nasal foreign bodies. Ann Emerg Med.
1980;9:37–8.
8. Backlin SA.
Positive-pressure technique for nasal foreign body removal in children. Ann Emerg Med.
1995; 25:554–5.
9. Botma M,
Bader R,
Kubba H.
‘A parent’s kiss’: evaluating an unusual method for removing nasal foreign bodies in children. J Laryngol Otol.
2000;114:598–600.
10. Finkelstein JA.
Oral Ambu-bag insufflation to remove unilateral nasal foreign bodies. Am J Emerg Med.
1996; 14:57–8.
11. Navitsky RC,
Beamsley A,
McLaughlin S.
Nasal positive-pressure technique for nasal foreign body removal in children. Am J Emerg Med.
2002;20:103–4.
12. Kadish H.
Ear and nose foreign bodies: “It is all about the tools”. Clin Pediatr (Phila).
2005;44:665–70.
13. Ngo A,
Ng KC,
Sim TP.
Otorhinolaryngeal foreign bodies in children presenting to the emergency department. Singapore Med J.
2005;46:172–8.
14. Esclamado RM,
Richardson MA.
Laryngotracheal foreign bodies in children. A comparison with bronchial foreign bodies. Am J Dis Child.
1987;141:259–62.
15. Bloom DC,
Christenson TE,
Manning SC,
Eksteen EC,
Perkins JA,
Inglis AF,
et al.
Plastic laryngeal foreign bodies in children: a diagnostic challenge. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol.
2005;69:657–62.
16. Berkowitz RG,
Lim WK.
Laryngeal foreign bodies in children revisited. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol.
2003;112: 866–8.
17. Gautam V,
Phillips J,
Bowmer H,
Reichl M.
Foreign body in the throat. J Accid Emerg Med.
1994;11:113–5.
18. Puhakka H,
Svedstrom E,
Kero P,
Valli P,
Iisalo E.
Tracheobronchial foreign bodies. A persistent problem in pediatric patients. Am J Dis Child.
1989;143:543–5.
19. Brown L,
Denmark TK,
Wittlake WA,
Vargas EJ,
Watson T,
Crabb JW.
Procedural sedation use in the ED: management of pediatric ear and nose foreign bodies. Am J Emerg Med.
2004;22:310–4.
20. Antonelli PJ,
Ahmadi A,
Prevatt A.
Insecticidal activity of common reagents for insect foreign bodies of the ear. Laryngoscope.
2001;111:15–20.
21. McRae D,
Premachandra DJ,
Gatland DJ.
Button batteries in the ear, nose and cervical esophagus: a destructive foreign body. J Otolaryngol.
1989;18:317–9.
22. Abadir WF,
Nakhla V,
Chong P.
Removal of superglue from the external ear using acetone: case report and literature review. J Laryngol Otol.
1995;109:1219–21.
23. Schulze SL,
Kerschner J,
Beste D.
Pediatric external auditory canal foreign bodies: a review of 698 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.
2002;127:73–8.
24. Balbani AP,
Sanchez TG,
Butugan O,
Kii MA,
Angelico FV Jr,
Ikino CM,
et al.
Ear and nose foreign body removal in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol.
1998;46:37–42.
25. Kadish HA,
Corneli HM.
Removal of nasal foreign bodies in the pediatric population. Am J Emerg Med.
1997; 15:54–6.
26. Loh WS,
Leong JL,
Tan HK.
Hazardous foreign bodies: complications and management of button batteries in nose. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol.
2003;112:379–83.
27Robinson PJ.
Laryngeal foreign bodies in children: first stop before the right main bronchus. J Paediatr Child Health.
2003;39:477–9.
28. Kumar M,
Joseph G,
Kumar S,
Clayton M.
Fish bone as a foreign body. J Laryngol Otol.
2003;117:568–9.
29. Silva AB,
Muntz HR,
Clary R.
Utility of conventional radiography in the diagnosis and management of pediatric airway foreign bodies. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol.
1998;107(10 pt 1):834–8.
Ear emergencies | Multimedia Encyclopedia | Health Information
Ear emergencies include objects in the ear canal and ruptured eardrums.
Considerations
Children often put objects into their ears. These objects can be hard to remove. The ear canal is a tube of solid bone that is lined with thin, sensitive skin. Any object pressing against the skin can be very painful. In many cases, a health care provider will need to use special instruments to examine the ear and safely remove the object.
Causes
Pain, hearing loss, dizziness, ringing in the ear, and
ruptured eardrums
can be caused by:
- Inserting cotton swabs, toothpicks, pins, pens, or other objects into the ear
- Sudden changes in pressure, as from an explosion, blow to the head, flying, scuba diving, falling while water skiing, or being slapped on the head or ear
- Loud sounds
, such as a gun firing
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
First Aid
Depending on the type of ear emergency, follow the steps below.
OBJECT IN THE EAR
Calm and reassure the person.
- If the object is sticking out and is easy to remove, gently remove it by hand or with tweezers. Then, get medical help to make sure the entire object has been removed.
- If you think a small object may be lodged inside the ear, but you cannot see it, DO NOT reach inside the ear canal with tweezers. You can do more harm than good.
- Try using gravity to get the object out by tilting the head to the affected side. DO NOT strike the person’s head. Shake it gently in the direction of the ground to try to dislodge the object.
- If the object does not come out, get medical help.
INSECT IN THE EAR
DO NOT let the person put a finger in the ear. This may make the insect sting.
- Turn the person’s head so that the affected side is up, and wait to see if the insect flies or crawls out.
- If this does not work, try pouring mineral oil, olive oil, or baby oil into the ear. For an adult, pull the ear lobe gently backward and upward as you pour the oil. For a child, pull the ear lobe backward and downward as you pour. The insect should suffocate and may float out in the oil. AVOID using oil to remove any object other than an insect, since oil can cause other types of foreign objects to swell.
- Even if an insect appears to come out, get medical attention. Small insect parts can irritate the sensitive skin of the ear canal.
RUPTURED EARDRUM
The person will have severe pain.
- Place sterile cotton gently in the outer ear canal to keep the inside of the ear clean.
- Get medical help.
- Do not put any liquid into the ear.
CUTS ON THE OUTER EAR
Apply direct pressure until the bleeding stops.
- Cover the injury with a sterile dressing shaped to the contour of the ear, and tape it loosely in place.
- Apply cold compresses over the dressing to reduce pain and swelling.
- If part of the ear has been cut off, keep the part. Get medical help right away.
- Place the part in a clean cloth and keep it on ice.
DRAINAGE FROM INSIDE THE EAR
Cover the outside of the ear with a sterile dressing shaped to the contour of the ear, and tape it loosely in place.
- Have the person lie down on the side with the affected ear down so that it can drain. However, DO NOT move the person if a neck or back injury is suspected.
- Get medical help right away.
Do Not
If someone has an ear emergency, remember the following:
- DO NOT block any drainage coming from the ear.
- DO NOT try to clean or wash the inside of the ear canal.
- DO NOT put any liquid into the ear.
- DO NOT attempt to remove the object by probing with a cotton swab, a pin, or any other tool. To do so will risk pushing the object farther into the ear and damaging the middle ear.
- DO NOT reach inside the ear canal with tweezers.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Some symptoms may mean you have had serious injury to your ear. See a provider if you have:
- Pain in the ear
- Ringing sounds
- Dizziness (vertigo)
- Hearing loss
- Drainage or blood from the ear
- Recent blow to your ear or head
Prevention
Follow these steps to prevent ear emergencies:
- Never put anything in the ear canal without first talking to a provider.
- Never hit the head to try to correct an ear problem.
- Teach children not to put things in their ears.
- Avoid cleaning the ear canals altogether.
- After an ear injury, avoid nose blowing and getting water in the injured ear.
- Treat ear infections right away.
If you tend to feel pain and pressure in your ears when flying:
- Drink a lot of fluid before and during the flight.
- Avoid the use of alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco on the day of the flight.
- Chew gum, suck on hard candy, or yawn during take-off and landing.
- Talk to your provider about taking a decongestant or using a nasal spray before you fly.
References
Byyny RL, Shockley LW. Scuba diving and dysbarism. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds.
Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice
. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 143.
Thomas SH, Goodloe JM. Foreign bodies. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds.
Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice
. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 60.
What Is Otosclerosis? Symptoms & Diagnosis| NIDCD
What is otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis is a term derived from oto, meaning “of the ear,” and sclerosis, meaning “abnormal hardening of body tissue.” The condition is caused by abnormal bone remodeling in the middle ear. Bone remodeling is a lifelong process in which bone tissue renews itself by replacing old tissue with new. In otosclerosis, abnormal remodeling disrupts the ability of sound to travel from the middle ear to the inner ear. Otosclerosis affects more than three million Americans. Many cases of otosclerosis are thought to be inherited. White, middle-aged women are most at risk.
How do we hear?
Healthy hearing relies on a series of events that change sound waves in the air into electrochemical signals within the ear. The auditory nerve then carries these signals to the brain.
First, sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through a narrow passageway called the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum.
The incoming sound waves make the eardrum vibrate, and the vibrations travel to three tiny bones in the middle ear called the malleus, incus, and stapes—the Latin names for hammer, anvil, and stirrup.
Hair cells in the inner ear
Under great magnification, hair cells can be seen as
the arrow shaped structures at the top of the photo.
The middle-ear bones amplify the sound vibrations and send them to the cochlea, a fluid-filled structure shaped like a snail, in the inner ear. The upper and lower parts of the cochlea are separated by an elastic, “basilar” membrane that serves as the base, or ground floor, upon which key hearing structures sit.
Incoming sound vibrations cause the fluid inside the cochlea to ripple, and a traveling wave forms along the basilar membrane. Hair cells that sit on top of the membrane “ride” this wave and move up and down with it.
The bristly structures of the hair cells then bump up against an overlying membrane, which causes the bristles to tilt to one side and open pore-like channels. Certain chemicals then rush in, creating an electrical signal that is carried by the auditory nerve to the brain. The end result is a recognizable sound.
Hair cells near the base of the cochlea detect higher-pitched sounds, such as a cell phone ringing. Those nearer the middle detect lower-pitched sounds, such as a large dog barking.
Parts of the ear
What causes otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis is most often caused when one of the bones in the middle ear, the stapes, becomes stuck in place. When this bone is unable to vibrate, sound is unable to travel through the ear and hearing becomes impaired (see illustration).
Why this happens is still unclear, but scientists think it could be related to a previous measles infection, stress fractures to the bony tissue surrounding the inner ear, or immune disorders. Otosclerosis also tends to run in families.
It may also have to do with the interaction among three different immune-system cells known as cytokines. Researchers believe that the proper balance of these three substances is necessary for healthy bone remodeling and that an imbalance in their levels could cause the kind of abnormal remodeling that occurs in otosclerosis.
What are the symptoms of otosclerosis?
Hearing loss, the most frequently reported symptom of otosclerosis, usually starts in one ear and then moves to the other. This loss may appear very gradually. Many people with otosclerosis first notice that they are unable to hear low-pitched sounds or can’t hear a whisper. Some people may also experience dizziness, balance problems, or tinnitus. Tinnitus is a ringing, roaring, buzzing, or hissing in the ears or head that sometimes occurs with hearing loss.
How is otosclerosis diagnosed?
Otosclerosis is diagnosed by health care providers who specialize in hearing. These include an otolaryngologist (commonly called an ENT, because they are doctors who specialize in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, and neck), an otologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears), or an audiologist (a health care professional trained to identify, measure, and treat hearing disorders). The first step in a diagnosis is to rule out other diseases or health problems that can cause the same symptoms as otosclerosis. Next steps include hearing tests that measure hearing sensitivity (audiogram) and middle-ear sound conduction (tympanogram). Sometimes, imaging tests—such as a CT scan—are also used to diagnose otosclerosis.
How is otosclerosis treated?
Currently, there is no effective drug treatment for otosclerosis, although there is hope that continued bone-remodeling research could identify potential new therapies. Mild otosclerosis can be treated with a hearing aid that amplifies sound, but surgery is often required. In a procedure known as a stapedectomy, a surgeon inserts a prosthetic device into the middle ear to bypass the abnormal bone and permit sound waves to travel to the inner ear and restore hearing.
It is important to discuss any surgical procedure with an ear specialist to clarify potential risks and limitations of the operation. For example, some hearing loss may persist after stapedectomy, and in rare cases, surgery can actually worsen hearing loss.
What kinds of research on otosclerosis does the NIDCD support?
The complicated architecture of the inner ear makes it difficult for scientists to study this part of the body. Because researchers can’t remove and analyze a sample of the inner ear from someone who has otosclerosis (or other hearing disorders), they must study ear bone samples from cadavers donated for research. These samples, called temporal bone, are in short supply. To encourage more research on otosclerosis, the NIDCD supports national temporal bone collections, such as the Otopathology Research Collaboration Network at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. This effort coordinates the collection and sharing of temporal bone tissue among laboratories. It also encourages scientists to combine modern biology, imaging, and computer technologies with information from patient history and pathology reports to look for new clues and solutions to ear disorders caused by bone abnormalities.
The NIDCD also funds genetic studies and bone-remodeling research to better understand the causes of otosclerosis as well as to investigate potential new treatments. NIDCD-supported researchers are currently testing—in animals—the effectiveness of an implantable device that can deliver a bone-growth inhibiting drug directly into the inner ear to correct the bone abnormalities that cause otosclerosis. If the results are promising, testing will later be done in people.
Where can I find additional information about otosclerosis?
The NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations that provide information on the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.
Use the following keywords to help find organizations that can answer questions and provide information on otosclerosis:
NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
Toll-free voice: (800) 241-1044
Toll-free TTY: (800) 241-1055
Email: nidcdinfo@nidcd. nih.gov
NIH Pub. No. 13-4234
Updated September 2013
Don’t Stick These Objects in Your Ears
Listen to this—if you can: In a new study from Wayne State University, researchers found that “aural foreign bodies”—a.k.a. objects stuck in ears—send an average of 56,189 people to emergency rooms every year.
In adults younger than 65, about half the injuries came from cotton swabs, which can perforate your eardrum when pushed in too far. The irony is that swabbing your ears is pointless. “Ears are self-cleaning systems,” says study author Adam Folbe, M.D. Your ear canal pushes wax outward continually, like a conveyor belt, he says.
What’s more, wax is healthy: “Your earwax is made in the outer part of your ear, and it’s acidic, so it acts as a moisturizer for the ear canal skin and helps to keep bacteria and fungus from growing,” says Dr. Folbe.
Excess wax buildup is uncommon, and if it strikes—usually due to age or genetics—you’ll need the help of an otolaryngologist, not a cotton swab.
Consider these scenarios as motivation to quit Q-tips. “The most common problem with cotton swabs causing injury is actually when people leave them in their ear and walk around and forget that they have them in,” says Hamid Djalilian, M.D., an associate professor of otolaryngology at the University of California-Irvine. What happens next? A guy goes to comb his hair or do something else with his arms, and he bumps the swab, pushing it in too far. Ouch!
Children have also been known to bump the arms of swabbing adults, and people who swab near doors can be injured when someone walks in and collides with them. If the swab goes in deep enough, it can fracture the tiny bones behind your eardrums that carry sound to your inner ear.
In the study, the following items also caused plenty of pain:
Jewelry
If you wear earrings, make sure the backs are on securely and consider taking them out when you sleep. If an earring back—or anything else—lands in your ear, don’t try to fish it out yourself. “You’ll push it in further and that can cause infection or perforation of your eardrum,” he says. Doctors have forceps for these situations.
Tissues
Some people use tissues to clean their ears, says Dr. Folbe. Skip them: You’re inviting injury and infection, he says.
Ear Protection
When worn correctly, earplugs can protect you from hearing loss. It’s a different story if a piece breaks off and lodges in your ear. Be careful with moldable plugs, which are designed to form to your outer ear, says Dr. Folbe. Don’t put them in your ear canal. “It actually warms up with your body temperature, and then when you pull it out it’s soft, and you pull out the outer part of it, but the inner part stays in,” says Dr. Folbe. What’s more, these plugs are usually designed for one-time use, so re-using them increases the risk of breakage, says Dr. Djalilian. Earplugs made of plastic or foam are less likely to cause this problem; however, if you see cracks or signs of wear and tear, buy new ones.
Stereo Accessories
Many earphones have a plastic or rubber lip to help them stay put. These could break off while you’re listening, says Dr. Folbe, so if you see cracks, glue wearing off, or other signs of damage, consider buying a new pair. Even if they’re in mint condition, wearing earbuds during long workouts can push sweat and wax deep into your ear canal, increasing your infection risk. If you notice pain when you pull on your earlobe, see a doctor.
Hearing Aid Components
This is a medical emergency. “If you get a battery stuck in your ear canal, you need to go right to the ER because the battery has acid in it, and it can it burn the ear canal skin,” says Dr. Folbe.
Related Content:
Julie Stewart
Julie Stewart is a writer and content strategist whose work has also appeared in Health, and Women’s Health, Everyday Health, Vice, and Shape.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
90,000 remove earrings with an English lock, Congo or carnations
Earrings are worn with pleasure not only by women, but also by men. Such decorations have existed for more than one hundred years and are produced in a large number of options. They have all sorts of shapes and different types of fasteners to help fix and then quickly remove the earrings from the ears.
Many people wear the same jewelry all the time, and some people like to change the options of such jewelry often. And here a problem often arises – the lock does not want to unfasten, and it is simply impossible to remove the earrings from the earrings! What to do in such cases? What to do if the earring does not open? The way out usually depends on the type of locks.
How to unbutton an earring with an English lock
Jewelry with an English lock is the most common. The fasteners are a pin with a notch attached to the earring and a movable hook that locks on it. This is a rather complex construction and must be handled with care. To put on such jewelry, you need to:
- Carefully insert the pin into the hole in your earlobe.
- Grip the front of the earring with the fingers of one hand.
- With the other hand, lift the hook until you hear a click.
Gold earrings with an English lock from the “Diamonds of Yakutia” collection
You should remove earrings with an English lock in this order. First you need to put your index finger on the jewelry pin, and your thumb on the hook. Then they pry the tip of the pin with their thumb and pull it up until it clicks. If it does not appear, you can try to gently unfasten the clasp on the back of your earlobe by pressing lightly on the hook. Usually the problem is solved after that.
In the case when it is difficult to open the English lock, it is better to take the jewelry immediately to the workshop. There is a high probability that the clasp is broken or distorted. This can lead to loss of jewelry. To avoid getting into an unpleasant situation , it is better to take off earrings with an English lock at night. It is during sleep that they are most often deformed.
How to remove the silicone fastener from the earring
Nowadays, jewelry-studs have become a trend – small earrings with silicone plugs.They look exquisite, fasten easily and quickly, do not put pressure on the earlobes. If the clasp is lost, it can be replaced at no extra cost. However, the studs cannot be worn for too long. The silicone hardens and the plug stops opening. What to do in such cases?
If the buckle is still soft, you just need to rinse it well with peroxide right on the ear. Probably, dirt has accumulated at the place of fixation of the lock. If the silicone has hardened and the clasp has no metal inside, you can use a hair dryer to soften it.It is necessary to heat the lobe gently to avoid burns. When the clasp becomes warm, you should try to separate the silicone from the earring. It usually detaches easily. After the ear is free of jewelry, it must be treated with a disinfectant.
If there is a need to remove the silicone fastener with a metal insert, the hair dryer cannot be used. It is necessary to moisten a cotton pad with any oil and carefully wipe the decoration on both sides. The silicone will get wet and the plug can be pulled out of the ear.
It is important to disinfect hands, lobes and earrings before all these procedures! Do not try to remove the silicone fasteners with sharp objects – this is dangerous. If none of the methods described above helped, it is better to contact a piercing master or a hospital to quickly remove the fastener without pain and consequences.
How to remove an earring from the cartilage of the ear
In recent years, boys and girls began to pierce not only the lobe, but also the cartilage of the ear in different places. This makes it possible to wear several jewelry at once and create a stylish and interesting look. The products are easily inserted into the cartilage and do not cause any discomfort to the owner. But it also happens that the earring is stuck in it and cannot be pulled out. How to be?
You can use any of the tips already described above. However, when pain appears when you try to open an earring inserted into the cartilage, you should not do anything yourself. This means that the jewelry has grown into the ear tissue. Only a specialist can carefully pull it out.
How to remove a carnation
Now the process of ear piercing is quick and painless.First, holes are made with a special pistol, then small stud earrings are inserted into them. To prevent the ears from overgrowing, jewelry must be turned daily, treating with peroxide or medical alcohol. Then the hole will be neat, and the carnations will not grow to the tissues of the ear. If you forget about such manipulations, then you will not be able to easily remove the healing earring. We’ll have to see a doctor.
Subject to the rules of wearing, the carnations are removed without effort one to two months after the puncture.It is important that the wound is completely healed. You can also take off the first children’s earrings after the same period. If you do this at home, you need to:
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- Prepare cotton pads moistened with peroxide or alcohol.
- Place the child in front of you.
- Take the stud head with one hand and the fastener with the other. Turn it carefully or pull it off smoothly.
- Carefully pull the earring out of the hole.
- Treat the lobe with a cotton swab with a disinfectant solution.
Other jewelry can be put into the child’s ears after an hour, but it is better to let them rest for a couple of days. It is not worth it any longer – the holes will overgrow.
Children’s earrings in the Sunlight catalog
How to open the lock on Congo earrings
Congo earrings have been very popular for many years. They allow you to create a bold, memorable image and are incredible for many young women. Decorations are complemented by reliable locks, which sometimes open with great difficulty. How can you avoid this problem?
It is better to purchase gold hoop earrings that bend well.Even with a broken fastener, such items can be removed carefully. Before buying jewelry, you need to check how the locks open and close. If, after wearing earrings, the hole in the earlobe becomes inflamed, began to hurt, it is better to refuse them. Often, to open the hoop earrings, the fasteners have to be turned, and the puncture in the ear is injured.
To remove the Congo earrings, you need:
- Thoroughly treat your hands, ears, jewelry with peroxide or alcohol.
- Grease the lock of the earrings with oil, leave for a few minutes.
- Try to open the clasp carefully.
If necessary? manipulations can be repeated several times. The Congo clasp on the earrings often sticks and you cannot quickly cope with it on your own. In such cases, you can turn to someone else for help.
Should you take off your earrings at night?
Earrings are worn by almost all the fairer sex. Men do not neglect such jewelry either. Whether to remove them from the ears at night, everyone decides for themselves.Someone is comfortable sleeping with earrings, some are not. If your ears are recently pierced, you cannot remove the earrings. The holes will be permanently injured. And it is better to take off heavy ornaments of irregular shape at night. Products can catch on the pillow, blanket and tear the earlobe. Don’t leave inexpensive jewelry in your ears. It can cause puncture inflammation.
Earrings from the collection “Golden Shine”
To avoid problems with unbuttoning earrings, their loss, the locks must be checked when purchasing the product.Fasteners that begin to seize during use should be repaired if possible. When choosing new jewelry, it is advisable to try them on first. If the earrings seem uncomfortable, too heavy, do not take them. The locks will quickly break, and the earrings will become unclaimed.
08.02.21
What to do if something gets in your ear
Your ears are an extremely sensitive organ, and internal damage can severely impair your hearing.To protect the inside of your ears, it is important to know what to do when a dangerous situation arises.
A cotton swab inserted too deeply, a small stone stuck or a bug crawling into the ear canal – all of the above looks like a serious problem. Even if the very thought of it makes you nervous, what will you do if it actually happens? The main thing is to stay calm and know what to do in case of an unforeseen situation with the organ of hearing. Panic or worsening damage can cause even more problems, and hearing impairment is the last thing you want.
While it is difficult to prepare for each hazardous situation in advance, it is possible to try to draw up a plan of action for potential accidents. A bug or a foreign object in your ear may seem like something very distant and unreal, however, it is better to play it safe than to regret it later. Here’s some information on how to remove a foreign object and what to do if an insect crawls into your ear.
Something stuck in my ear
If you have an accident or find that your child has done something reckless, you may start to panic.However, many children and adults end up in the hospital with foreign objects in their ear. This is more common among children, as they lack the knowledge and experience to recognize the potential danger. They can put various objects, food and much more into their mouth, nose and ears.
It is known for certain that the most common items found in the ears are beads, paper, buttons, food (such as beans) and even erasers. If there is something small enough to fit in the ear, your child may try to shove it in there.In adults, pebbles, cotton swabs, or bobby pins can get stuck in their ears.
Small batteries, such as hearing aids, may also end up in the ear if a child puts them there. These situations are more serious because the batteries can rust or leak into the ear, causing damage. In such cases, go to the emergency room immediately, even if you managed to retrieve the item. Inspection is necessary to make sure there is no damage.
Although you may be tempted to remove the item yourself, you should avoid it unless you are sure it is painless and safe.For example, if it is possible to remove the object painlessly, you need to do it carefully. However, if the item is stuck or requires tweezers to remove it, do not try to do it yourself. You may push the object further or damage your inner ear. Never push other objects into your ear to try to push the foreign body out.
Medical personnel are specially trained to remove foreign objects from the ear and have the necessary equipment at hand. While going to an emergency room can seem like a hassle, it can save you or your child’s hearing. Such situations occur often, especially in children, and the right actions in such cases will help to avoid unwanted consequences. However, if you make the problem worse, you can damage your hearing.
Is something moving in my ear?
This can be a very frightening experience, especially for a child. It is not uncommon for bugs to crawl into people’s mouths, nostrils and ears. In these situations, insects can even get stuck inside your ear. While the sound and sensation can trigger panic, it is important to remain calm.If you shake your head vigorously or beat yourself in the ears, the beetle can crawl deeper, sting or bite.
First, you need to create conditions for the insect to crawl out on its own. Sit with your head bowed to help the bug out and straighten your ear to widen the ear canal. Then freeze for five to ten minutes, shaking your head slightly from time to time. If possible, keep a cup under your ear so that the insect can be identified later. If the bug doesn’t pop out, you can ask someone to shine a light in your ear. This can help lure out the insect. However, if an insect begins to crawl away from the light, turn off the flashlight immediately.
To avoid damage, try pouring oil into your ear to kill the bug. Mineral oil, baby oil, or olive oil work well. When the insect is dead, you can try rinsing it out. Do not try this if you have ear problems – you may aggravate them in the process. Do not try to remove the bug with tongs or cotton swabs. You can push it further, provoke an aggressive insect reaction, or pierce the eardrum.If possible, just go to the hospital to get the insect out of your ear. They will kill the bug with lidocaine or some other agent and remove it from the ear canal.
If an insect bites or stings you, go to the emergency room immediately. Even if you removed the insect, you need medical attention. You will most likely be given antibiotics and other medications to reduce swelling and prevent infection. While these experiences are traumatic, they are not as rare as you might think. In many hospitals, people have been seen treating cockroaches, ants and other insects stuck in their ears. Just stay calm and focus on making rational decisions. If no one is around or you are too scared to try to remove the insect yourself, call someone to take you to the hospital.
Hearing loss due to foreign objects in the ear
If something gets stuck in your ear, it can be a relatively harmless situation, especially if you approach it carefully and wisely.If the eardrum is not punctured or torn, the ear will heal. Even if the eardrum has been damaged in some way, it should heal quite well. However, when something enters the ear canal, there is always a chance of hearing damage. For this reason, it is important that you minimize the possibility of hearing impairment.
As mentioned above, do not put anything else in your ear or put oil, water, or alcohol in your ear if you have a history of ear problems. In many non-dangerous cases of a foreign object entering the ear, unskilled intervention led to a deterioration or complication. As a result, in order to avoid a visit to the hospital, people hurt themselves, and parents harmed their children by trying to help them.
Therefore, it is imperative to seek specialized medical attention. Time, money and hassle are nothing compared to your hearing. You only have one pair of ears, so do your best to take care of them.
You cannot anticipate problems like this, but you can try to avoid it. Prevent young children from playing with beads, certain toys, beans, and other small items.If the object can be choked on or easily inserted into the ear, do not give it to children. Do not leave children unattended with food.
Adults should avoid using cotton swabs and bobby pins to remove earwax. Movements with the lower jaw will naturally remove the earwax, while the wax plug can be removed by a professional. If there are bugs in your house, call an exterminator. Those who regularly go camping or sleeping outdoors should always sleep with earplugs to avoid bugs getting in their ears.
If you would like to learn more about how to care for your ears, consider subscribing to our hearing health newsletter. The Signia Newsletter will provide you with regularly updated articles on ears, hearing impairment and other information.
90,000 Removal of foreign bodies from the nose, ear and pharynx in Nikolaev
The pharynx, nose and ear are the most vulnerable organs in relation to the ingress of foreign bodies.
A foreign object enters the ENT organs through natural holes, usually by accident.It must be removed as quickly as possible, before it harms the body, especially children.
Unskillful attempts by parents to remove the object from the child on their own can lead to an even more dangerous situation. Only an ENT can remove a foreign body in a safe way using special tools and under the control of diagnostic equipment.
Items that have to be removed by the otolaryngologist:
- organic – peas, beans, seeds, fruit seeds, cereals;
- live – crawling midges, beetles, moths, ladybugs and other insects;
- inorganic – beads, beads, buttons, stones, small plastic toys, cloth, cotton wool;
- metal – buttons, paper clips, nails, nuts, screws, washers, coins, flat batteries.
Symptoms of the presence of a foreign body in the nose, ear, larynx
Parents begin to guess about the misfortune with the child when he strenuously picks his nose, rubs his ear, coughs or begins to choke. Removing objects from the nose is the most common manipulation faced by an otolaryngologist. Once in the nasal cavity, the object causes irritation, sometimes it falls out when you sneeze. If this does not happen, congestion, a runny nose appears. Unlike rhinitis, these symptoms only appear in the affected side of the nose.
Severe pain is felt if the object has sharp edges.
If a small and smooth object is stuck, you can put up with it, but prolonged presence of a foreign body in the nose always leads to complications:
- the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed;
- purulent discharge and an unpleasant odor appear;
- there is an overgrowth of granulation tissue, nosebleeds occur;
- A rhinolith stone forms around the object, leading to chronic rhinitis.
With a timely visit to the doctor, it is possible to avoid edema, inflammation and growth of granulation tissue, and the process of removing the object will not be hampered by the changes in the nasal cavity that have occurred during this time.
Foreign bodies enter the pharynx while eating. Poorly cooked food – with unselected fish bones, or with husks, and careless hasty food lead to injury to the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat and tonsils. The sunken bone causes great discomfort even when swallowing saliva.
It is not recommended to independently take on the removal of objects from the ear in yourself or in a child. Such attempts are rarely successful. Without skill and the necessary tools, the object can be pushed even deeper into the ear canal, complicating the work of the doctor.
How is the removal of objects from the nose, ear and pharynx in Nikolaev
The medical center “ON Clinic Nikolaev” provides assistance in removing all types of foreign bodies that have entered the ENT organs. The otolaryngology department is provided with video endoscopic equipment, the doctor has the opportunity to examine the patient and take a picture with the localization of the detected object.The image is displayed on the monitor, and the doctor on the screen controls his actions to remove the foreign body.
Removal from the sinuses is carried out using a special loop on the endoscope, which can be used to grasp and remove the object. The blunt hook is used for both the nose and ear. The otolaryngologist removes insects from the ears by rinsing the ear canal with water and a special solution.
If you do not know what to do, if water gets into your ear after diving in the sea or pool and does not pour out, and the ear is blocked, the doctor will solve this problem as well.Perhaps the sulfur plug is to blame – the water in the ear was absorbed into the dry wax, it swelled and blocked the ear canal.
In the area of the pharyngeal tonsils and the root of the tongue, fish bones, eggshells, particles of nut shells, grain husks get stuck. They are visible when examining the pharynx, the doctor removes them with forceps and tweezers.
Helix ear cartilage piercing – types of piercings, recommendations of masters, advice on care
Plan
- Types of ear cartilage piercing
- Which earring to choose?
- Procedure steps.
- What to do before piercing?
- Contraindications
- How is the process going?
- Post-procedure puncture care
- What instruments are used?
- How many days does healing take?
- Possible complications after piercing
- What problems can arise and why?
- Recommendations
- Range
- What’s Hot?
The history of ear cartilage piercing goes back centuries: before, every element of the image mattered, now stylish hoop earrings are a beautiful, effective element of a holistic image.To obtain the result, a puncture is performed with a special tool.
Interestingly, ear piercing is one of the oldest forms of body modification. This was done long before our era, which is confirmed by archaeological research. In the twentieth century, there was a real “boom” in piercing – regarding the piercing of the lobe, it was done by friends at home to each other. Gradually, this procedure turns into a separate service of a medical specialist.
Piercing of the cartilaginous part differs significantly from piercing the earlobe – both in the procedure and the instruments used, and in the care and healing process.This type of puncture is painful, sometimes pain relief is required.
Types of ear cartilage piercing
- Helix – a type of puncture, when the upper part of the concha on the curl is pierced, the cartilage is partially captured. The peculiarity of the procedure is that it is quite painless, since there are no nerve endings there.
You cannot pick up jewelry of great thickness – if the earlobe is stretched (for example, under the tunnels), then there is no cartilage.
- Forward Helix – also a cartilage piercing, but in the opposite place from the previous type.Usually, several punctures are made here for miniature jewelry.
It should be noted that healing, in this case, is a long process – about 4 months.
- Industrial piercing – a type of puncture of the cartilaginous part, suggesting 2 obligatory holes in the upper cartilage, between them a barbell is inserted. The most popular option: one hole in front of the shell, near the head, the other – exactly at the opposite point.
Initially, it is not recommended to insert a steel earring, a bioplastic jewelry is worn for several months – while the healing process is in progress.
- Day piercing – a puncture in one of the curls of the internal cartilage is supposed to be performed from top to bottom. You can install half rings, rings, rods of a certain type. Several punctures are sometimes made. This type is universally suitable for both sexes.
After the piercing, the earring is immediately inserted, it should not be too thick so as not to cause discomfort. The healing process, depending on various factors, can take up to 8 months.
- Ruuk piercing – a puncture in the cartilage of the ear opposite the tragus on the protrusion. It is more difficult if the concha is naturally small, but this is not a limitation if you want this particular type of piercing. This is difficult only for the master. You also need to carefully and carefully select jewelry – not everything will work. Consider your anatomy and consult a professional.
- Orbital piercing is a type of double piercing. The peculiarity is that ini connect the ring.The number of punctures may be different, but the procedure is not performed at once – it is carried out in stages so as not to cause discomfort and complications. Healing lasts up to 1 year.
The specialist does not just pierce, but before that he carefully calculates the distance between the holes, taking into account possible changes in the cartilage itself.
- Tragus piercing – tragus piercing, the most elegant option, is considered female. A puncture is assumed in the anterior part of the shell. Miniature rings, carnations are suitable for him.
Immediately after the procedure, you need to be careful – do not sleep on the side of the puncture, it is undesirable to use an earphone.
Which earring to choose?
Initially, before piercing, determine the thickness of the earring, since the hole in the cartilage does not stretch, as is the case with the lobe.
- One of the most popular options is the barbell or barrella. Optimal solution for industrial puncture. Visually, it is a tube with clamps, it does not bend. The decor is varied – stones, thorns and other decorations.
- Ring is the standard earring type for both cartilage and lobe. The circle is not closed, in place of the missing part there is an insert-ball or other decor.
- Labret – decorated stick similar to a stud. A straight stick is limited to discs at each edge.
- Circular – a horseshoe, which ends with balls from two edges.
- Banana – an earring of a characteristic shape, there is a wrap at both ends – a ball or a cone.
Stages of the piercing procedure
- If there are no contraindications for the procedure, the specialist conducts training: the specialist examines the features of the ear; ear disinfection with alcohol; the puncture site is marked with a special marker.Some puncture sites are much more painful than others. Pain relievers may be used.
- Tool fixation – with a clamp.
- The cartilage is manually pierced with a catheter needle – the needle is removed, leaving the catheter.
- Next, a previously disinfected decoration is introduced into the catheter, which is gradually pushed out by the earring.
- As a result, the catheter is removed from the stem and the ball is twisted on the earring.
Preparation for the piercing procedure
The puncture site is preliminarily examined by a specialist to assess the location of the vessels, anatomical features of the ear.
The main point is that the puncture of the ear cartilage is painful, more difficult than the puncture of the lobe. Start with the lobe before piercing.
- First, the entire ear is disinfected – it is treated with 95% alcohol.
- The jewelry itself, which will be inserted immediately after the puncture, is disinfected: for this, it is processed in an autoclave (dry heat), which allows you to kill 99.9% of microbes. The disinfection process takes 15-30 minutes.
- A point is made at the puncture site with a special antiseptic marker, anesthesia is performed.
Since the procedure is quite painful, local anesthesia is used: external, injection, or both. A special cream or spray is applied to the skin as an anesthetic, then an injection is given. Sometimes only external anesthesia is enough – it all depends on the puncture site and the client’s pain threshold.
Contraindications
There are a number of features that prevent ear cartilage piercing – primarily to protect against difficult and dangerous consequences.
First of all, the puncture cannot be performed by yourself, anywhere, it is dangerous to trust the procedure to just anyone – the process can have irreparable consequences if you do something wrong. Contact the professionals!
Before the procedure, the master draws attention to the anatomical, physiological characteristics of the client’s ear. Sterile conditions of the operation are extremely important.
In some cases, a professional, licensed foreman, will refuse to carry out the procedure. Grounds for refusal:
- Any blood disease;
- Pregnancy;
- The client has not reached the age of majority;
- Traumatic brain injury;
- The client has diabetes mellitus;
- Rheumatism, arthritis;
- The client applied to be sick (influenza, ARVI).
How is the process going?
A special lamp is used to shine through the cartilage in order to determine the anatomical features, the location of the vessels. Then preparatory work is carried out – decontamination of the ear with alcohol, put a point at the puncture site. To obtain a hole, a catheter needle of the required thickness is used. An earring is immediately inserted into the puncture.
Do not be afraid for sight, hearing and other body functions. There is a stereotype that piercing carries the risk of damaging nerve endings.Large nerve branches cannot be damaged, so there is no need to fear for your health. Especially if you trust a professional.
Care of the puncture after the procedure
Healing after piercing of the cartilaginous part takes longer than in the case of the earlobe. In order for the process to pass without any special problems and complications, it is recommended to follow these recommendations:
- You should not touch the puncture site – this is important, since it is quite easy to infect.
- Healing takes place within 4 weeks – those earrings that were inserted immediately after piercing do not need to be removed all this time.
- Baths and saunas are prohibited for a certain time, for the same reason as in the first paragraph. The first three days after the procedure, you should generally be extremely careful with water procedures. A categorical ban on swimming in natural reservoirs.
- You must not move or twist the earring installed after the piercing – the more you irritate the puncture zone, the more the fibrous tissue becomes denser.
- Ban on hot baths and showers – high temperature water can cause bleeding.
- Take care not to snag hair or clothing on the puncture.
- It is not recommended to sleep on the side in which the piercing is made – in a dream, a person can spin, you will not even notice how you injure the puncture zone.
- The main point is that you cannot use alcohol as an antiseptic, as you can burn tissues.
For quick healing and care, experts recommend special products, taking into account the type of piercing.
For the first 4 weeks, you need to regularly treat the puncture with an antiseptic – only in this case you can and should rotate the earring.This is necessary so that the agent is evenly distributed over the channel, the points of entry and exit of the earring – everything must be thoroughly disinfected.
If you go in for sports, after taking a shower, you need to additionally treat the hole with an antiseptic.
If the puncture site, with proper care, is red, swollen, or painful, you should contact the specialist who performed the puncture as soon as possible.
What tools are used?
In terms of the set of instruments, the piercing of the ear cartilage differs from the piercing of the lobe.The lobe is pierced with a special gun, a needle. The hole can be stretched depending on the diameter of the jewelry – no need to carefully select the diameter.
There are a little more problems with cartilage:
- Since it does not stretch, you must initially select the number of a special needle for a specific size.
- A catheter-needle of a certain number is used for puncture – it indicates the size of the future hole.
- Also use a fenestration clamp, a clamp and a special ring spreader.
The main tasks of the piercing specialist are to avoid two problems:
- Crushing the cartilage of the ear.
- Injury due to incorrect actions.
To avoid problems and injury, the piercing is done by hand with a needle as the gun can crush cartilage.
How many days does healing take?
The complete healing process, depending on the individual characteristics and the puncture site, can last from several months to 8-9 months.The first 4 weeks, the canal is formed, primary healing – at this time the earring cannot be removed, you need to regularly treat the puncture site with an antiseptic.
Possible complications
In the process of piercing, the following problems are possible: crushing of the ear cartilage and trauma, infection. What is it fraught with?
- Using a gun can crush cartilage, so piercing is done with a sterile catheter needle.
- If fragmentation occurs, the cartilage may die and heal for a long time.
- Even if healing occurs, scars, large holes that do not heal are possible. To avoid necrosis, you need not only contact a professional, but also regularly handle the puncture site.
- Another risk associated with allergic reactions is not a common problem, but it is worth noting that some metals can cause adverse reactions in the body. It is recommended to use a medical or jewelry style, titanium as the first earring.
What problems can occur and why?
First of all, the most dangerous factor is dirt, microbes, mechanical damage.Contact with any dirty objects, microcracks can cause blood poisoning, purulent processes, bleeding.
If you suffered from viral diseases (especially, shortly before piercing), otitis media, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, this can negatively affect the regeneration processes, the healing process will take longer.
Permanent mechanical influences, scars are the result of improper care. If you notice a slight deviation from the norm, immediately contact a specialist to understand the cause of the problem.In some cases, not only normal care is required, but also therapy with more serious methods.
The most common problem is inflammation. Reasons:
- The earring is constantly removed, forgetting that this cannot be done for 4 weeks;
- Bathing in a river or lake – this is the right step to bring dirt, microorganisms into an unhealed puncture;
- Do not regularly clean the puncture site;
- The procedure was performed incorrectly by a non-professional.
Scarring, purulent inflammation, bumps, abscesses, seals are signs of not only a low level of hygiene, but also low immunity, infectious diseases.In rare cases, rejection, on the contrary, is a sign of a high level of immunity.
If any abnormal sign appears, you should immediately contact a specialist. You may need medication for a speedy recovery.
Recommendations
- No need to start ear piercing with cartilage, first try experiments with a lobe – the procedure is less painful, heals quickly (up to 1.5 months).
- Want multiple punctures? There is no need to do several operations at once – this is a painful process.
- It is imperative to carefully look after the puncture itself, especially during the first year.
- Do not forget that the healing of cartilage takes longer, the procedure itself is painful.
- Tell a professional immediately if you are allergic to certain metals. It is advisable to find out if you have any allergies before the procedure.
- Observe hygiene – treat the hole 2-4 times a day, be sure – after a shower, sports activities.
- Wear the headphones carefully, preferably wireless.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and treat them with an antiseptic before treating the canal and the edges of the hole. For canal treatment, saline is suitable.
Assortment
Freak boutique offers high quality and stylish earrings for ear cartilage piercing – made of steel, titanium, brass, with or without stones.
Surgical or jewelery steel is popular in jewelry making, because it is strong enough, hypoallergenic, relatively inexpensive, and hygienic.The surface has no pores, so harmful microbes can only be on the surface, and it is easy to disinfect. The necessary properties of the alloy are given by its components – nickel, molybdenum, chromium.
- Black surgical steel 8 mm ring with flat insert. Easy to fix with the release mechanism.
- Surgical steel expansion ring. Thin – thickness 1.2 mm, diameter – 8 mm. The main feature is the presence of an insert with white opal.The stone shimmers with blue and pink highlights.
A similar option – a ring with an amethyst. On a miniature insert – a stone of a light purple hue. The diameter is slightly larger than the previous version – 1 cm.
Titanium is considered the metal of the future, due to its properties, it is more often used for jewelry, because it is relatively inexpensive, durable, looks beautiful, has a low weight, hypoallergenic.
Similar version – without ball-insert, ordinary smooth titanium ring.
- High quality 925 sterling silver clicker ring, expandable type. Recommended for the nose, but also suitable for the ear.
Titanium labret – a durable, hypoallergenic metal. Suitable for punctures at different points of the ear cartilage. The main highlight is the decoration with an opal stone (turquoise, pink, lilac-white, blue-green). The fixation labret is equipped with an internal thread.
Jewelry or surgical steel labrettes without stones are an excellent option as a first piece of jewelry.Several sizes are available.
Circulars are often used for both septum and ears. This model of a horseshoe is made of surgical steel, in black color. At the ends there are cones-thorns.
Industrial barbells are one of the most effective adornments, especially for punk and cyberpunk styles. There is a wide selection of barbell inserts that play the role of decoration: with symbols, with stone inserts, with a chain. There are also removable barbell decorations.
What’s in fashion?
Trends suggest that ear cartilage piercing is becoming more popular – stars on the red carpet often prefer this type of piercing, adding stylish, unusual touches in the form of a barbell, ring and other types of earrings for the cartilaginous part to their image.
- One of the trends is triple piercing (it concerns both the lobe and the cartilaginous part). Miniature rings are inserted into the punctures. There are no design restrictions – if you don’t want rings, you can choose triangles, stars, hearts, flowers and other shapes.
- Combination of tragus plus earlobe piercing: choose different jewelry styles.
- Combination of helix and lobe piercing: this option is the least problematic in terms of pain. The main thing is that you can wear stylish and modern cuffs, connecting the puncture of the lobe and the hole in the cartilaginous part.
- Combination of deis with tragus – tragus and internal cartilage piercing. The couple looks stylish, but in these areas, healing takes longer than, for example, in the case of Helix.
- Industrial in combination with deis piercings: both types are painful and require long healing time.It is not recommended to perform punctures at a time. The trend is the combination of cartilage punctures with multiple lobe punctures.
Fashion recommends ear cartilage piercing as a trendy way to complement your look. At the peak of popularity – multiple punctures, a combination of a lobe and cartilage.
Freak boutique has its own piercing studio. Experts will advise you on all issues that interest you, help you choose a piece of jewelry. Compliance with technology, hygiene is guaranteed, specialists work under license, in sterile conditions.
BOOK UP TO A PIERCING STUDIO FREAK LABORATORY >>>
Other news:
Attention! Danger! Foreign bodies in the digestive tract
According to statistics, every fourth child aged from one year to 5-6 years old at least once in his life swallowed foreign objects, greatly frightening the parents. Putting toys and objects in the mouth is one of the stages in the development of a baby, the “oral stage” of cognition of the world, thus the child receives information about the shape, properties and taste of objects.
Most often, foreign objects fall during games if the baby is very interested in some object. The consequences will depend on the size, shape, surface and type of the item. Small, smooth foreign bodies can freely leave the body on their own. Parents will be happy to discover the loss at the bottom of the pot. However, there is always the possibility that a swallowed object will get stuck in the esophagus or intestines.
Potentially Hazardous Items :
- Sharp (needles, pins, nails, fish bones, hairpins) – may cause perforation).
- Items over 3 cm in length.
- Batteries.
- Magnets.
- Shards of glass, ceramics.
- Fruit pits with sharp edges.
Why are magnetic balls dangerous? The fact is that recently toys have become very popular – puzzles consisting of magnetic balls that are tightly linked to each other and easily take the desired shape. Most often, they try to separate the balls with their teeth and swallow them easily.The balls are small, less than 1 cm, smooth and very easy to swallow. Any non-magnetic object of this size should not cause any concern, it will just come out with the feces. Also, children often mistake them for confectionery sprinkles on cakes and pastries – now such decorations are very popular. Outwardly, they are absolutely identical to the balls-magnets. Everything matches – from color and shine to size.
The danger is that children swallow these balls at intervals, and then they are already in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) – the magnets are attracted to each other, stick together.As you know, a magnet can stick to another magnet or metal object and through cloth, paper, rubber glove. The intestinal wall has exactly the same thickness, and if the magnets stick together, capturing the intestinal wall, then they will no longer separate themselves. There is a lot of pressure on the fabric caught between the balls. As a result, necrosis, after which a pressure ulcer is formed in the intestinal wall, its perforation, i.e. “Hole” and, as a result, inflammation of the abdominal cavity. Since this is not a momentary process, the pain will not be strong and acute, the child will not scream and cry.He will complain, he will have a little diarrhea – and no one will think of a magnet. The outcome in such a situation is always the same – it is an urgent surgical intervention and long-term treatment. Doctors are sometimes powerless to save from further disability. Because you have to do a resection, remove tissue with necrosis.
What happens if a battery is swallowed
It is very common for children to swallow batteries. But this is a very dangerous situation. After all, the battery contains an electrolyte that is very toxic.So, in the United States of America for 13 years, more than 40 thousand cases were recorded when a child swallowed a battery. In 14 cases, it ended in the death of the baby. If the battery gets stuck in the esophagus, it leads to a burn of the mucous membrane after 2-2.5 hours. This is due to electrolyte leakage. In addition, the child is also injured by the current, which causes hydrolysis of the components of the interstitial fluid. Because of this, a hole forms in the esophagus, and food and saliva begin to enter the space between the organs.It doesn’t matter if the battery is charged or discharged. Statistics show that most often children take out batteries either from their toys, from adult wristwatches, from hearing aids, remotes. In toys, the battery compartment is fixed with screws. The reliability of these fasteners should be checked every time before you give the toy to your child. A round battery should never be left in plain sight; all such devices must be hidden. Dispose of batteries so that they do not end up in the general trash that a child can reach.And, of course, children cannot be left unattended.
Parental actions when a foreign body is swallowed
If you suspect that a foreign body has been swallowed , it is necessary to: call an ambulance or (if there is a personal transport) urgently deliver the child to the emergency room of the nearest medical organization.
Before the arrival of an ambulance, parents do not need :
- Make any attempt to pull, shake out or “push” the foreign body further into the stomach (for example, by giving a child a dry bread crust).
- Do not feed or water the child. You can moisten your lips with water if they are dry.
- Do not attempt to induce vomiting in the child.
The child must be under medical supervision, even if in the first hours there are no symptoms and he feels well. A foreign body with sharp edges (needles, pins, badges, etc.) can get stuck in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, which increases the risk of puncturing its wall. Large and heavy foreign bodies (for example, a metal ball) that do not leave on their own and are in the intestine for a long time can cause significant damage to the wall with bleeding or perforation (violation of integrity).Therefore, if a foreign body enters the gastrointestinal tract, it is imperative to make sure that it has come out, for which each chair of the child is carefully examined.
Precautions .
If your child is not yet 3 years old, and he is very curious, then inspect the apartment from the height of the child’s growth: get down on your knees and see what potentially dangerous objects the child reaches and remove all small and dangerous from his access zone items.Buy toys by age, without small parts and durable, which the baby will not be able to break or break. Do not leave your child unattended to play with coins, buttons, cereals. If you need to leave the room, carefully examine the toys, but rather take the baby with you. Do not let the playing kid out of your line of sight! Toys containing batteries must be pre-inspected to ensure that the batteries cannot be easily removed. All batteries should be under a cover securely fixed with a screw.Do not buy toys of questionable quality for your child, the marking of which does not correspond to his age.
The material was prepared by the clinical resident of the department of polyclinic pediatrics
GUO BelMAPO Elena Gennadievna Shilina, scientific adviser MD, associate professor Titova N.D.
Patch on the membrane – Science – Kommersant
Scientists from the Institute of Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Photonic Technologies, the Federal Research Center of Crystallography and Photonics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Center of Fiber Optics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with otolaryngologists from the I.M.I. M. Sechenov have developed a new method for the restoration of the tympanic membrane using the main fibroblast growth factor (FGF-b) and a biodegradable scaffold.
How the eardrum works
Sound waves (mechanical vibrations of the air) enter the ear and reach the membrane – the tympanic membrane, which is stretched over the annulus fibrosus, tightly welded to the bony walls of the ear canal, and has a three-layer structure.In the outer epidermal layer, the cellular composition is mainly represented by keratinocytes, the middle fibrous layer contains fibroblasts and type II and III collagen, the inner epithelial layer is represented by squamous non-keratinizing epithelium. It is the middle fibrous layer that determines the mechanical parameters of the tympanic membrane, such as firmness and elasticity, and, ultimately, hearing acuity.
Sound pressure causes vibrations of the eardrum, which are transmitted through the ossicles to the cochlea, where they are transformed into nerve impulses.One of the main reasons for persistent hearing loss is chronic suppurative otitis media: after it (as well as after injury), a local morphological defect of the tympanic membrane occurs – perforation, or, in simple words, a hole. Loss of the integrity of the eardrum leads to a violation of its vibration, and the sound is not transmitted to the cochlea correctly. Perforations of the tympanic membrane are often overgrown, but in about a quarter of cases they remain forever. Clinically, this is manifested by persistent hearing loss (conductive hearing loss), purulent discharge from the ear, pain, dizziness and noise.
The only way out for such patients is laborious and, in most cases, long-term surgery. For plastic closure of perforation in the membrane, fragments of the patient’s own tissues are used – his cartilage or pieces of the connective tissue membrane (fascia), but complete restoration of the tympanic membrane is not possible: these tissues are histologically inaccurately matching the tissue of the tympanic membrane. Hearing is restored to 75–90%. Much depends on the experience and skill of the otorhinolaryngologist, that is, in other words, such a technique cannot become a standard one.
Cultivation of the membrane
The latest advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering inspire hope. Theoretically, it is possible to distinguish three main directions in which research in this area is currently proceeding. These are, firstly, the use of cell cultures from various sources, which are the basis of any tissue and the main “regenerative material”; second, the creation of scaffolds (materials that create a mechanical scaffold for cells and participate in the regulation of cell differentiation and migration) and, third, the use of regulatory factors.
The restoration of the tympanic membrane can be achieved in various ways, for example, the creation of a tissue-engineered construct based on the scaffold, growth factors and stem cells to close the defect. Or the introduction of a scaffold, previously impregnated with a solution of growth factors, into the membrane defect. More than 70 experimental and clinical studies have been published on the closure of persistent tympanic membrane perforations using tissue engineering approaches.
One of the most well-studied methods is the use of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-b).It is produced after injury to the tympanic membrane and enhances regeneration.
For example, in the work of 2014, Japanese researchers led by Nobuhiro Hakuba showed the advantages of using a complex of recombinant fibroblast growth factor and gelatinous gel for the repair of tympanic membrane perforation. A positive result was achieved in 100% of the experimental animals (guinea pigs), while in the control group, where only gelatin gel was used, complete closure of the defect was observed in 62.5% of the animals.
The results of the first clinical trials are also encouraging. With the direct application of fibroblast growth factor to the edges of the perforation, in 11 of 12 patients complete closure of the tympanic membrane defect occurred, and in the control group, spontaneous closure was observed in only 9 of 17 patients.
Russian method
At the Institute of Regenerative Medicine and the Department of Ear, Throat and Nose Diseases, Sechenov University, in an experiment on chinchillas, it was also possible to achieve the closure of persistent perforation of the tympanic membrane using FGF-b and a biodegradable scaffold.For this, a model of persistent perforation of the tympanic membrane was developed, which in many respects is equivalent to real pathology.
The method of performing the operation included the so-called refreshing of the perforation edges – removal of the calcified edge, which prevents regeneration, and plasty of the defect using a polymer carrier containing FGF-b. This technique is much more convenient for the surgeon in comparison with the traditional one, which involves the separation of the tympanic membrane residues, the collection of an autograft, its preparation, placement and subsequent careful tamponade of the external auditory canal.
The study of the properties of the regenerated tissue was also a non-trivial task, since, along with the study of morphological characteristics, it is fundamentally important to assess the ability of the membrane to vibrate during sound stimulation. For this purpose, an experimental setup was developed that allows recording the vibration of the membranes induced by a third-party sound source in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 kHz (the frequency range of hearing in humans is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz) and using a laser to read the responses with a fiber-optic probe (grant No. RFBR 18-02-00658).Regenerated structures in their morphology and mechanical properties are much closer to the normal tympanic membrane.
Particularly interesting are the results showing the complete restoration of all layers of the tympanic membrane that are present in the native tissue, including the middle layer.
In the near future, it is planned to start clinical trials, documents have been prepared for submission to the local ethics committee of Sechenov University, which brings such an operation closer to people.
This work was supported by the RFBR grant 18-02-00658 and the project to improve the competitiveness of leading Russian universities among the world’s leading research and educational centers (5-100).
Valery Svistushkin, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Ear, Throat and Nose Diseases of the I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Mikhail Svistushkin, Assistant of the Department of Ear, Throat and Nose Diseases of the I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Anastasia Shpichka, Candidate of Biological Sci., Leading Researcher, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, I.M.I.M.Sechenova Sergey Timashev, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences
90,000 If a fish bone is stuck in the throat – what to do, can it come out on its own
If a fish bone is stuck in the throat – what to do, can it come out on its own
A fishbone stuck in your throat is not a problem. How to get rid of and what to do? Can fish bone come out of the throat over time?
People who often eat fish dishes are puzzled by these questions.For example, a fisherman’s family gets it on the table almost every other day. And as we all know, river fish have the smallest bones!
If a fish bone gets stuck in your throat, what should you do first?
It so happens that over time, the bone comes out by itself and you should not panic. And if not? There are many ways to get rid of a fishbone stuck in your throat. But not all of them are workers.
Therefore, I always advise you not to hesitate and see a doctor. He has all the necessary tools that may not be available at home.
If a child has a fish bone in the throat
Before giving fried, boiled, smoked or salted fish to a child, I carefully check it for any bones. I often choose and give fish fillets.
But if they did not overlook it, and the child complained of a bone stuck in the throat, and upon visual examination it is clear that you yourself will not be able to cope – you will not get it. Call an ambulance or the doctor on call, explaining the situation.
If a fish bone is stuck in an adult’s throat
It is necessary to examine the oral cavity carefully with a flashlight (use a mirror or outside help).
When you find it visually, try to pick up and get the bone with tweezers. Next, use folk home methods. If all else fails, go to the doctor or to him.
Homemade folk ways to get rid of a stuck fish bone in the throat so that it comes out on its own
- Coating products help to get rid of fish bone. Such as yogurt, soft curd, mashed banana or marshmallow, mashed potatoes. The effect is such that when moving further up the throat, soft food will catch a bone and push it into the esophagus.
- You can also take out the bone with the help of thick drinks with pulp, as well as try jelly, drinking yogurt, kefir.
- An old proven method – the crumb of yesterday’s bread. Try also to take bread crumb and mix equal proportions with vegetable (olive) oil and honey.
- A bandage on your finger, or gauze, will also help get rid of a bone stuck nearby. Just swipe gently and the bone will catch on the threads of the fabric.
What to do when you can get rid of the fish bone in your throat
- It is best to rinse the neck with chamomile infusion or other rinsing solution.
- Next, you need to neutralize the wound – buy chlorhexidine at the pharmacy – it is better not to use alcohol – otherwise you need to dilute it with water. And rinse your mouth and throat.
- In the early days, the bone wound will not heal yet, so I advise you to eat soft food: porridge, mashed potatoes, yogurt, broth.
What not to do when the bone is stuck in the throat
Try to pull out the bone with your fingers or some other object (if there are no tweezers).
Pounding on the back, sneezing or coughing violently.
If you are afraid or doubt that you yourself can pull out or get rid of a stuck fish bone – do not listen to anyone and do not panic.
Medical assistance under such circumstances is the most correct decision!
Be careful and take care of yourself and your loved ones! Follow my new publications – it will be even more interesting further!
.