| The ear canal is a very delicate and sensitive | | | | behind the bug, make the ear drum slick, fill the canal, |
| structure approximately an inch and one quarter deep | | | | and drown the bug. Then the doctor can remove |
| in the eardrum. This is measured from the outside | | | | the bug by direct visualization or suction if necessary. |
| portion of the ear into the drum. The canal tapers | | | | Hunters and/or people working in a noisy |
| from the external opening downward and slightly | | | | environment, using small compression ear plugs may |
| backwards in young children. It is straighter and not | | | | sometimes have a piece of the ear plug break off or |
| tapering downward at ages 10-12. By 18-21years old | | | | get stuck in the ear. Do not attempt to remove this |
| it goes upward and backward to let water naturally | | | | yourself. The doctor has special forceps or suction |
| drain out of the ear. | | | | instruments to remove this easily, quickly, and |
| This very boney canal of the temporal bone is | | | | painlessly. |
| covered by a very thin membrane. The membrane | | | | Pencil erasers often get lodged in children's ears and |
| secretes wax for lubrication and protection of this | | | | need a special hook to grab and remove the eraser. |
| canal and the drum. People place cotton tipped | | | | The doctor may need to use an oily substance as |
| applicators and ram the wax in or spin it around | | | | well to get the eraser to slide around. If the ear gets |
| pushing soft and hardened wax up against the | | | | inflamed, swelling around the eraser may become |
| eardrum, which can be very painful. People have | | | | stuck and need to be surgically removed. |
| used the loop end of a bobby pin to place inside and | | | | Children can put small beads or other things in their |
| scrape the wax out. This often results in pain and | | | | ears, which must be removed professionally from the |
| bleeding of the lining in the canal. Bent paper clips | | | | ear drum by direct visualization, loops, snares, |
| and almost anything possible short of a crow bar has | | | | lubrication, or other materials to protect the canal, |
| been used to get the wax out. It is best | | | | drum, and integrity of the middle ear with its delicate |
| consistently to flush out with a bulb syringe gently | | | | small 3 bone structure which allows you to hear. |
| with some over- the- counter ear wash products | | | | Don't be a short term, short sited, or a self done |
| with warm water. If with gentle washing it does | | | | person who in a few minutes makes a poor decision |
| not evolve absolutely; see your physician and let him | | | | that can permanently damage your precious hearing. |
| remove it with a light and direct visualization or | | | | Antibiotic combination and/or steroid drops may or |
| special apparatus for wax removal. The problem is | | | | may not be used after the removal depending on the |
| easily treated if done early. | | | | integrity of the tissue after removal. The patient |
| Bugs and insects have thermo receptors and smell | | | | must be monitored for 12-24 hours for any other |
| receptors that can smell the rotting wax and feel the | | | | signs of infection, inflammation, remaining particulate |
| increased heat by 1 degree in the ear canal. People | | | | matter, or other problems of the ear. Headaches of |
| often just walking can have an insect fly into their | | | | excessive pain after removal must be closely |
| ear and people at night may have a bug climb across | | | | monitored by the physician. |
| their pillow seeking this wax in their ear. Do not | | | | These matters are often best cared for in a |
| attempt to remove this live insect yourself. When | | | | emergency room, urgent care center, an immediate |
| you go in there with a Q-tip the insect will back away | | | | medical care facility, ENT, or an experienced |
| from the entrance, into the corner to protect itself. | | | | practitioner with the right tools for handling this |
| It may possibly damage or rupture your ear drum | | | | situation. Remember you may need tetanus as well, |
| and injure the ear canal causing extreme pain and | | | | because the integrity of the ear or protective coating |
| bleeding. Now we really have a problem of infection, | | | | may be violated during this trauma to the tissue. No |
| possible meningitis, permanent hearing loss, or | | | | matter how irritated and anxious a major bug |
| encephalitis. The doctor usually applies some oily | | | | humming and moving in your ear bothers you avoid |
| medications to place in the ear canal which can rush | | | | any temptation to get it out yourself. |