Objects (foreign bodies) inserted into the ear usually do not cause
significant damage. But objects that are inserted forcefully can damage the
ear canal or penetrate the eardrum.
Problems with objects in the
ear most commonly occur in children younger than age 5 and in people who have
problems with thinking and reasoning, such as an intellectual disability or
Alzheimer's disease.
Some objects in the
ear cause more problems than others.
An insect or object in the ear may cause minimal
symptoms. A young child may complain of discomfort or unusual noises in the
ear. In this case, it is reasonable to try to remove the object. If the object
cannot be removed, it may fall out on its own over the next 24
hours.
Food items may be placed in the ear. Dry foods expand when
they become moist. Seeds, such as beans, peas, or popcorn, can swell from the
moistness of the ear canal, making them harder to remove. The objects may
cause pain and hearing loss as they expand to fill the ear canal. The
irritation may cause a bad-smelling liquid to drain from the ear.
The tip or a piece of cotton from a cotton swab may become lodged in the ear
canal if one is used to try to clean the ear canal or remove another
object.
Disc batteries (also called button cell batteries) are more
dangerous than other objects and should be removed immediately. The moist
tissue in the ear canal can cause the battery to release strong chemicals
(alkali) quickly, often in less than 1 hour. These chemicals can cause a severe
burn and scarring in a little as 4 hours.
The longer an object is left in the ear, the more difficult it
is to remove. Also, the longer an object stays in the ear, the higher the chances of infection.
A visit to a doctor is needed if an object remains in the ear longer than 24
hours.
An urgent visit to a doctor is needed any time a disc
battery is placed in the ear or if symptoms of injury develop after an object
has been inserted in the ear. Symptoms of injury include sudden hearing loss,
moderate to severe pain, dizziness, or bleeding.
Use the Check Your
Symptoms section to decide if and when you should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
To remove an object from the ear:
Tilt the head to the side and shake it. Gently
pulling the ear up and back may straighten the ear canal and help dislodge the
object.
If the object is visible and the person is calm and
cooperative, carefully try to remove the object with blunt-ended tweezers. Do
not use non-gripping instruments, such as bobby pins, cotton swabs, or
matchsticks. Use care not to push the object farther into the
ear.
Do not try to remove an object if the person will not hold
still.
Do not try to remove an object if it is so far inside the
ear that you can't see the tips of the tweezers.
Do not try to
flush an object out with water.
When trying to remove an object
from a child's ear:
Speak to the child in a calm, relaxed
voice. This will help control the child's fear.
An object that is
not causing symptoms does not have to be removed immediately. If the child is
upset, it may be best to let him or her calm down before trying to remove the
object.
To remove a disc battery from the ear:
If the battery
is partially out of the ear, you may be able to remove it with your fingers or
blunt-nosed tweezers.
Do not use non-gripping instruments, such as
bobby pins, cotton swabs, or matchsticks.
Use care not to push the
battery farther into the ear.
If a child resists or is not able to
hold still, do not attempt to remove the battery.
Do not use
eardrops or sprays of any type. This can cause the battery to corrode more
quickly.
Note:
If you cannot remove the battery, call your doctor. If you
are not able to reach your doctor immediately, go directly to the nearest
hospital emergency department. Do not place eardrops or other solutions of any kind in the ear in an attempt to remove the battery.
Eardrops can cause the battery to corrode quickly, causing severe damage to the
ear canal.
To remove an insect from an ear:
Do not try to kill
an insect that has flown or crawled inside the ear.
Instead, pull the ear up and back, and let the
sun or a bright light shine inside the ear. Insects are attracted to light and
may crawl out.
If the insect does not crawl out:
Lie the person down with the ear facing
upward.
Fill the ear canal with warm (body temperature) mineral,
olive, or baby oil. The insect may float out.
Do not use ear candles. They have
no proven benefit in the removal of earwax or other objects in the ear and can
cause serious injury.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to
evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
Pain develops or increases.
The
object or insect cannot be removed.
The
ear, ear canal, or the skin around the ear becomes red or
swollen.
Drainage from the ear develops.
You develop
other symptoms, such as hearing loss, dizziness, or bleeding.
Your
symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Small children love to explore their
surroundings. They are also curious about their bodies. To prevent children
from inserting objects into their ears:
Supervise young children, especially children
younger than age 5, to reduce the risk that they will put objects in their ears
or other body openings, such as the mouth, nose, rectum, or
vagina.
Keep all objects small enough to be swallowed or inserted
into body openings away from small children. Warn children not to put any
object into a body opening.
Store all disc batteries in a safe
place out of the reach of children. Properly dispose of used disc batteries out
of the reach of children.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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