Young children are at risk of putting foreign objects in their ears, nose, and throat which can cause infection, difficulty breathing, or choking. Objects in the ears, like toys or food, may cause pain, redness, or drainage and block hearing. Treatment involves prompt removal of the object by a healthcare provider using tools like suction or irrigation. Objects inhaled into the nose or throat can also obstruct breathing and require immediate medical attention, possibly including sedation or surgery to remove safely. Close supervision of young children is important to prevent dangerous choking situations.

1. CHILD HEALTH EMERGENCIES FOREIGN
BODIES

2. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR, NOSE, AND
THROAT
An infant or young child may put an object in
his or her ears, nose, or mouth.
• Objects in the mouth may be swallowed or
breathed (aspirated) into the lungs.
• Objects in the ears and nose can make it
difficult to hear or breathe and can cause
infection.
• An object that is swallowed may require
general anesthesia and a procedure to remove
it.
• An object that is aspirated may cause serious
difficult breathing and requires a procedure for

3. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR CANAL
• Foreign bodies in the ear canal can be
anything a child can push into his or her
ear.
• Some of the items that are commonly
found in the ear canal include the
following:
 Food
 Insects
 Toys
 Buttons
 Pieces of crayon
 Small batteries

4. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR CANAL
Some objects placed in the ear may not cause
symptoms, while other objects, such as food
and insects, may cause pain in the ear,
redness, or drainage.
Hearing may be affected if the object is
blocking the ear canal.

5. TREATMENT FOR FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
EAR
• The treatment for foreign bodies in the
ear is prompt removal of the object by
your child's health care provider.

6. TREATMENT FOR FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
EAR
The following are some of the techniques
that may be used by your child's health
care provider to remove the object from the
ear canal:
• Instruments may be inserted in the ear
• Magnets are sometimes used if the object is
metal
• Flushing the ear canal with water
• A machine with suction to help pull the
object out

7. TREATMENT FOR FOREIGN BODIES IN THE
EAR
• After removal of the object, your
child's health care provider will then
re-examine the ear to determine if
there has been any injury to the ear
canal.
• Antibiotic drops for the ear may be
prescribed to treat any possible
infections.

8. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE NOSE
Objects that are put into the child's nose
are usually soft things. These would
include:
• Clay
• Pieces of toys
• Erasers

9. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE NOSE
Sometimes, a foreign body may enter the
nose while the child is trying to smell the
object.
• The most common symptom of a foreign
body in the nose is nasal drainage.
• The drainage appears only on the side of
the nose with the object and often has a bad
odor.
• In some cases, the child may also have a
bloody nose.

10. TREATMENT OF A FOREIGN BODY IN THE
NOSE
• Treatment of a foreign body in the
nose involves prompt removal of
the object by your child's health
care provider.
• Sedating the child is sometimes
necessary in order to remove the
object successfully.

11. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE NOSE
The following are some of the techniques
that may be used by your child's health
care provider to remove the object from
the nose:
• Suction machines with tubes attached
• Instruments may be inserted in the nose
• After removal of the object, your child's
health care provider may prescribe nose
drops or antibiotic ointments to treat any
possible infections.

12. FOREIGN BODIES IN THE THROAT
• A foreign body in the throat can cause
choking and is a medical emergency
and requires immediate attention.
• The foreign body can get stuck in many
different places within the airway.
• According to the American Academy of
Pediatrics, death by choking is a
leading cause of death and injury
among children younger than 4 years of
age.

13. • As with other foreign body problems, children
tend to put things into their mouths when they
are bored or curious.
• The child may then inhale deeply and the
object may become lodged in the "airway" tube
(trachea) instead of the "eating" tube
(esophagus).
• Food may be the cause of obstruction in
children who do not have a full set of teeth to
chew completely, or those children who simply
do not chew their food well.
• Children also do not have complete
coordination of the mouth and tongue which
may also lead to problems.

14. Children under the age of 4 years are in the
greatest danger of choking on small objects,
including:
• Seeds
• Toy parts
• Grapes
• Hot dogs
• Pebbles
• Nuts
• Buttons
• Coins

15. • Children need to be watched very
closely to avoid a choking
emergency.
• Foreign body ingestion requires
immediate medical attention.

16. The following are the most common
symptoms that may indicate a child is
choking:
• Choking or gagging when the object is
first inhaled
• Coughing at first
• Wheezing (a whistling sound, usually
made when the child breathes out)
• Although the initial symptoms listed above
may subside, the foreign body may still be
obstructing the airway.

17. The following symptoms may indicate that
the foreign body is still causing an airway
obstruction:
• Stridor (a high-pitched sound usually heard
when the child breathes)
• Cough that gets worse
• Child is unable to speak
• Pain in the throat area or chest
• Hoarse voice
• Blueness around the lips
• Not breathing
• The child may become unconscious

18. • Treatment of the problem varies with the
degree of airway blockage.
• If the object is completely blocking the
airway, the child will be unable to
breathe or talk and his or her lips will
become blue.
• This is a medical emergency and you
should seek emergency medical care.

19. • Sometimes, surgery is necessary to
remove the object.
• Children that are still talking and
breathing but show other symptoms
also need to be evaluated by a health
care professional immediately.

20. To prevent choking:
• Cut foods into small pieces
• Never let small children run, play, or lie
down while eating
• Keep coins and small items out of reach of
your children
• Read warning labels on toys
• Learn first aid for chocking