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A mother’s clever way to save her child from a bug crawling into their ear

The mother of an 8-year-old boy was praised by doctors for her quick thinking when a large cockroach crawled into her son's ear, preventing him from suffering a punctured eardrum.

Administrator

23 December, 2023

177

It was midnight when baby Bao Bao (China) suddenly started crying due to ear pain. His mother quickly took a flashlight to examine her son’s ear and discovered a fairly large cockroach inside his ear canal.

Despite being frightened, the mother remained calm and remembered the first aid measures she had learned. She quickly turned off the flashlight, put a few drops of cooking oil into her son’s ear, and promptly took him to the hospital.

After arriving at the hospital and recounting the incident, Bao Bao’s mother received praise from the medical staff. According to the doctors, if she had continued using the flashlight to try and remove the cockroach from her son’s ear, the situation would have worsened. When exposed to light, the cockroach would have been stimulated and would have crawled deeper into the dark recesses of the ear, likely causing damage to the boy’s eardrum.

Putting a few drops of cooking oil or baby massage oil into the ear canal can suffocate the insect and make it float out, reducing the damage to the ear and avoiding potential rupture of the eardrum.

Having cockroaches or other insects fly into a child’s ear is a common occurrence. This condition can cause discomfort and pain for the child and create fear and worry for the parents.

What can be done to prevent insects from entering a child’s ear?

To minimize the risk of insects entering a child’s ear, parents should:

– Pay attention to environmental hygiene: Keeping the house clean and sanitary is the first step in preventing insects from flying into a child’s ear. Regularly clean all nooks and crannies, beds, and windows to check for cracks and signs of insects; prevent insects from entering rooms through gaps, and prevent excessive accumulation of insects and other small animals in the house.

– Use insect repellents: Using appropriate insect repellents, such as odorless sprays or liquid repellents, in areas where children live can effectively reduce the number of insects in the house and minimize the risk of insects flying into a child’s ear.

– Be mindful of the child’s activity environment: When playing outdoors, ensure that the child stays away from overgrown or neglected gardens. Insects easily hide in these areas, and when a child rolls or plays on the grass, insects can crawl into their ears.

– Use protective measures: Parents can have their child wear a hat or headscarf when participating in outdoor activities. This can help reduce direct contact between insects and the child’s head and ears.

In addition, you can use insect repellents or apply repellents to the skin to prevent insects from approaching your child.

What should be done when a foreign object falls into a child’s ear?

When a foreign object is detected in a child’s ear, parents should first remain calm. If parents are too panicked or worried, the child will feel scared or uneasy, and this emotional response can affect the parents’ ability to cope and the child’s cooperation.

Parents should not use sharp objects to pick up foreign objects, as this can lead to more severe injuries. Do not use cotton swabs, needles, scissors, or other sharp objects, as they can push the object further in or puncture the eardrum.

Excessive movement can cause the foreign object to penetrate deeper or cause damage to the ear. Parents should have the child sit or lie still to reduce the movement of the foreign object into the ear.

If the above measures do not solve the problem or the child experiences severe pain, parents should take the child to the hospital or seek professional assistance at the nearest medical facility.

Doctors have the equipment and expertise to remove foreign objects quickly, safely, and ensure the child’s ear is not damaged.

According to VTC