Strangest Foreign Bodies Pulled from Children's Nasal Cavity and Ears

Every pediatrician or ENT doctor has a series of fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories to share. One of the stranger instances I encountered occurred at midnight when an urgent call came in. A two-year-old child had something lodged in his nose, and it turned out to be a particularly unusual case.

The Unusual Case: A Shell in the Nose

Imagine my surprise when, at 11 PM, my phone rang with an urgent call about a foreign body in the ear. Foreign bodies are common ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) emergencies, and children between the ages of 2 and 4 often put small objects in any accessible orifice. This case was a bit different.

I was greeted by a young father with his two children, a three-year-old and an 11-year-old. My initial thought was that one of the children had embarked on a late-night adventure, depositing a small object somewhere unexpected. However, the father explained that it was the elder brother who had caused the issue, not the younger one. This was unusual since older children typically outgrow this behavior.

After examining the ear with a microscope, I saw a glistening, transparent piece of glass lodged deep in the ear canal, causing some spotting of blood. I asked the children what had happened, and the father explained a behavior I found particularly strange: the children were playing a game where the three-year-old would throw glass pieces, and the elder brother would attempt to catch them using his ear. This was certainly a dangerous and unusual game!

Removing the Foreign Body

Although the game seemed amusing, it was indeed dangerous. I did not immediately scold the father but recognized the responsibility he had in supervising his children. Removing such a sharp object required great care to avoid further injury. After fifteen anxious minutes, I successfully extracted the glass from the ear canal, ensuring no permanent damage was done.

This case ranks among the strangest operations I've performed, earning its place in the top of the 'Hall of Fame' for unusual foreign bodies. Other highlights include removing a family of six maggots and a full-grown cockroach from an ear, but this one stands out uniquely.

Conclusion

As an ENT doctor, you never know what will come through the door. These cases remind us of the importance of awareness and supervision, especially when dealing with young children. While it's essential to support and encourage creativity and play, safety should always be the primary concern.