Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

F
foreign objects in the ear or nose Material that
enters the EAR or NOSE. This is a common occurrence
with young children, who tend to put
objects into their noses and ears. Typically, the
object is visible, though drainage or odor may signal
an undetected obstruction that is causing an
INFECTION. Attempts to retrieve or clear the object
can result in pushing it instead farther into the
auditory canal or nasal passages; there is a risk
with foreign objects in the nose of inhaling them
into the airways or LUNGS. A health-care provider
should assess and remove any foreign object that
does not come out of the ear or nose with minimal
effort, as well as any circumstance in which
an infection might exist. Particles of food and
objects such as paper wads attract moisture and
can swell, lodging more firmly in the ear or nose.
To treat an insect in the ear:
1. Lie on the side with the affected ear up.
2. Use an eyedropper to gently fill the auditory
canal with warm mineral oil or olive oil.
3. Wait a few minutes for the oil to suffocate the
insect.
4. Often the insect will float to the top of the
canal. If it does not, turn the head so the
affected ear is down and allow the oil to drain
from the auditory canal, bringing the insect
with it.
Do NOT put water into the ear canal in
an attempt to remove an insect or other
foreign object. Water may cause the
insect or object to swell, lodging it more
firmly into the ear canal.
When there is an object in the nose:
1. Breathe through the mouth to avoid inhaling
the object or lodging it farther into the nasal
passages.
2. Hold the clear nostril shut and breathe out
through the blocked nostril.
3. Do not blow forcefully or insert anything into
the nose to attempt to prod or pull the object
free.
If these techniques are not effective, a healthcare
provider will need to remove the object.
Removal of the foreign object is nearly always a
complete remedy, unless there is a secondary
infection that requires further treatment.
See also BLOWING THE NOSE; CLEANING THE EAR; EAR
LAVAGE.
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