Question

You have a 3-year-old female present with her mother with complaints of two days of left ear pain. On exam, you are unable to visualize the tympanic membrane due to an obstructing mass. You suspect a foreign body. Which of the following is true regarding removing a foreign object from the patient's ear canal?

a) Attempt to remove the object using tweezers without medical expertise
b) Irrigate the ear with warm water to dislodge the object
c) Seek medical help from a healthcare professional specialized in ear care
d) Use cotton swabs to gently push the object deeper into the ear canal

Answer 1

When unable to visualize the tympanic membrane due to a foreign body, the best action is to seek medical help from an ear specialist to remove the object safely.

Step-by-step explanation:

When faced with a scenario where a child presents with left ear pain and a foreign body obstructing the view of the tympanic membrane, the correct course of action is to seek medical help from a healthcare professional specialized in ear care.

The use of tweezers, cotton swabs, or any other objects to remove the foreign body without medical expertise can result in injury to the ear canal or eardrum. While irrigation with warm water might be a safe option for non-organic objects, this should also be done by a medical professional after proper assessment to avoid complications, such as eardrum rupture due to pressure exerted upon it.