The presence of any object that is not part of the natural structure of the ear lodged inside the ear canal. Only a physician using the correct instrument should attempt to remove foreign bodies from the ears. Attempts to remove foreign objects from the ear at home are dangerous, especially if a household item is used as a tool. Such attempts can cause serious injury to the ear or push the object farther into the ear and complicate its removal. If a live insect gets stuck in the ear, it is safe to apply a few drops of mineral or baby oil into the ear canal to try to immobilize the insect until a doctor can remove it.
Foreign bodies in the ears are usually small objects or pieces of objects, including earplugs, that are placed too deeply within the ear canal and cannot be readily removed. Other common foreign bodies include paper, toy parts, jewelry, cotton swabs, and eraser tips. Live insects may be particularly painful. Young children sometimes experiment with placing foreign bodies such as beads and beans in their ears where they can become firmly lodged or wedged in the small ear canal. Small button batteries are particularly dangerous because they can cause severe local injury to the ear; call a doctor immediately.
Objects that enter the ear accidentally or are inserted deliberately. These are usually insects, pebble, beans or peas, cotton swabs, or coins.
The ear canal is susceptible to foreign bodies, and it is relatively easy for objects to get lodged inside. Children, in particular, may frequently insert small items like peas or stones into their ears, while insects might unintentionally crawl or fly into the ear canal.
Attempting to remove objects from the ear by oneself can lead to pushing the items deeper into the ear canal, potentially causing harm to the eardrum. It is essential that foreign bodies in the ear are always removed by medical professionals. Doctors may use techniques such as syringing or fine toothed forceps to safely extract the objects. In the case of insects, they can sometimes be gently floated out using warmed olive oil or lukewarm water.