By our Smarty friends at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.
It’s a story as old as parenting: your child gets their hands on a small toy or other tiny object, and before you can stop them they’ve stuck the item in their nose or ear.
The most common foreign objects children stick in their nose and ears are beads, Play-Doh, pencil erasers, and beans, CEENTA Otolaryngologist John Blumer, MD, said. Parents should supervise their children if they are playing with small objects like these, or keep them away from their child entirely.
The typical age of a child who sticks objects in their nose or ears is 3-6 years old, Dr. Blumer said.
If a parent notices pain, discharge, or a foul odor, or hearing loss, their child may have something lodged in their nose or ears, Dr. Blumer said. Blowing the nose can sometimes dislodge the object, but parents should not attempt to remove the object with instruments at home. He typically extracts objects with special forceps under a microscope in his office.
The longer an object is lodged in the nose or ear, the greater the likelihood of infection, Dr. Blumer said. If that happens, the child will likely need antibiotics after the object is removed. They would take an oral antibiotic for a nasal infection and ear drops for an ear infection.
If you believe your child has an object stuck in their ear or nose, please call 704-295-3000 for an appointment.
Dr. Blumer is a comprehensive otolaryngologist who specializes in pediatric otolaryngology and the pediatric airway. He practices in our SouthPark office.
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates
