FOREIGN BODIES IN EAR
Foreign bodies in the ear are commonly seen in children below 10 years of age.
Types of Foreign Bodies :
- 1. Inorganic:
Beads, rubbers, pencils, metallic balls are commonly inserted by children. In adults, broken ends of matchsticks are commonly seen.
- 2. Organic:
Nuts, rice grain, cotton, sponge stimulate acute inflammation and otitis externa. Vegetative foreign bodies tend to swell up with time and get impacted in the ear canal.
- 3. Living Foreign Bodies:
- Flying or crawling insects may enter the ear canal and cause intense irritation and pain.
- Maggots: Flies are attached to foul ear discharge. Chloroform-diluted water is instilled into the ear to kill the maggots.