FOREIGN OBJECT REMOVAL
Object Stuck in the Ear, Nose or Throat? Removal in Bintulu, Sarawak
Safe removal of beads, toys, insects, food and fish bones from the ear, nose and throat for children and adults, by consultant ENT surgeon Dr. Yasmin at Kemena Pacific Hospital.
WhatsApp the clinic nowGo to the emergency department immediately if
- Your child has trouble breathing, is choking or drooling
- A button battery or magnet is in the ear or nose, or may have been swallowed
- There is heavy bleeding
- Something sharp is stuck in the throat
What not to do
- Do not try to remove the object with cotton buds, tweezers or hairpins. This often pushes it deeper.
- Do not put water in the ear if you think the object is a seed or bean, as it can swell.
- Do not swallow rice or bread to push down a fish bone.
Common cases
In the ear: Beads, toy parts, cotton bud tips, small stones and insects.
In the nose: Beads, foam, paper, food and small toys. A smelly discharge from one side of a child's nose can mean something is stuck there.
In the throat: Fish bones and chicken bones, which often cause a pricking feeling on swallowing.
How Dr. Yasmin removes foreign objects
Dr. Yasmin examines the area with good lighting and magnification, then removes the object with fine instruments or suction. Most objects can be removed in clinic within minutes. For very young or anxious children, she takes extra time to keep them calm. Occasionally a short general anaesthetic is needed for a deep or difficult object.
FAQs
My child put something in their nose but seems fine. Do they still need to be seen?
Yes. Objects in the nose can be breathed in or cause infection, so they should be removed promptly.
There is an insect in my ear. What should I do?
Keep calm and do not poke the ear. See a doctor the same day to have it removed.
Can a fish bone go down on its own?
Sometimes, but a pricking feeling that lasts should be checked the same day.