Claúdio Ferreira Nurse Coordinator LUZ 24 Foreign bodies in the ears are more common in younger children . Often, they even introduce it voluntarily, to experiment and for fun, because they are unaware of the danger and consequences of what they are doing. Foreign bodies in the ears usually small objects , such as toy parts, pieces of food, small stones, among others. Insects are also common foreign bodies. When a foreign body enters the ear, it is in general quickly noticeable that something is lodged there. For insects, there may be an annoying noise and perception of movement. A f oreign body in the ears can cause pain, infection, bleeding, and hearing loss, which depend on different factors, for example: Dimension of the foreign body; Presence of sharp edges of its surface; Depth that the foreign body reaches in the ear; Injury that causes in the ear structures; Improper attempts to remove the foreign body; Time until withdraw. When does a foreign body in the ear tentatively be removed at home? At home, removal can only be attempted when : The foreign body is lodged in the external ear canal (before the eardrum); There were no injuries to the structures of the ear; No yellowish or reddish discharge from the ear, persistent pain or hearing loss are present; Foreign body is easily visible and accessible. In other cases, and whenever there is any doubt, medical attention should be sought. What to do to remove the foreign body First, before touching your ears, wash your hands thoroughly with enough soap and water for 60 seconds, without forgetting the spaces between your fingers. After: Tilt the head to the side with the affected ear down, to try to take advantage of the gravity force; Pull the ear out to try to dislodge the foreign body and make it come out; If the foreign body still does not come out by itself and it is clearly visible and accessible, carefully pull it out with the help of a tweezer . What not to do when there is a foreign body in the ear Do not use cotton swabs or other objects other than those mentioned above to avoid the risk of the foreign body entering the ear further. Do not attempt to remove objects or insects from the ears of children who have tympanostomy tubes . Seek medical attention If you cannot remove an easily visible and accessible foreign body; If you have removed the foreign body, but symptoms persist ; Whenever there is a yellowish or reddish discharge from the ear, persistent pain, injury or hearing loss , situations in which you should not try to remove the foreign body. If you need to, call LUZ 24 – 217 104 424 – the Hospital da Luz clinical triage service, by phone, available 24 hours, 365 days, for adults and children. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
