Fort Worth Star-Telegram
That scratching in your ear? It could be a spider. This happens more often than you think
BY DALIA FAHEID
NOVEMBER 07, 2023 12:35 PM
A 64-year-old woman in Taiwan went to her doctor because she could not sleep. She told the doctor that she can hear scratching and buzzing in her ear, so they took a look and the discovery shocked her.
It showed a picture of a small spider and a discarded exoskeleton, the Washington Post reported. The thought of getting an insect stuck in one’s ear is the stuff of nightmares, but if it actually happens the insect can cause discomfort and should be removed immediately. The relatively common occurrence can cause damage to the inside of the ear by stinging or scratching the eardrum.
Texas Children’s Hospital says insects can fly or crawl into the ear and become trapped when a person spends time outdoors, or even indoors. The insect sometimes dies after entering the ear, or it may remain alive and attempt to work its way back out of the ear.
HERE’S WHAT TO DO IF AN INSECT CRAWLS INTO THE EAR
If it happens, do not attempt to remove the insect by poking it with a cotton swab, as this may push the insect further into the ear or cause damage to the middle ear or eardrum, Texas Children’s Hospital warns.
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• Instead, tilt the head to the side and gently shake it.
• If you think the insect is still alive and it does not come out, pour a small amount of vegetable or baby oil into the ear canal.
• If you think the insect is dead, pour a small amount of warm water into the ear canal to flush it out.
• Call your doctor immediately if the person affected has tubes in his or her ears or has a history of ear problems.
• Call your doctor to have the insect removed if it doesn’t come out after shaking and irrigation, if you are able to remove only parts of the insect or if you develops signs of infection such as a fever or foul smell or drainage from the ear.
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