Ear bug!

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Okay, guys, I have seen a lot of things, but today I saw my first bug in a student's ear. It was a frequent flier, at first I thought student was pulling my leg when he said "there is something in my ear." But I figured I'd take a look and likely send him back to class.

Take out my basic otoscope and sure enough, there is what may be a beetle in there, nestled a little too far for my taste to try and remove.

Friday is never boring...

You guys are brave. I do not go diving into ears. Had a few rocks last year and the kids had to have them surgically removed.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I was that kid once. Not in the school nurse's office though. When I was 12, we had a really bad beetle problem- they were hatching and flying everywhere! I was at the local carnival, by the food stand. One of those big June beetles flew into my ear. It hurt like the dickens! My parents took me over to the ambulance that was stationed there, and all they could see when they looked in was a leg- they though I'd been stung by a bee and the stinger was still in there! Nope, the stinger from a bee isn't going to be buzzing and moving around. So, off to the ER my parents dragged me. They tried unsuccessfully to get it out but it was just too darn deep- fortunately they were able to drown the little bugger and give me some small amount of relief as I was in major pain from such a huge bug. Had to go to a surgery center the next day and be heavily sedated for the ENT to get it out.

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I was that kid once. Not in the school nurse's office though. When I was 12, we had a really bad beetle problem- they were hatching and flying everywhere! I was at the local carnival, by the food stand. One of those big June beetles flew into my ear. It hurt like the dickens! My parents took me over to the ambulance that was stationed there, and all they could see when they looked in was a leg- they though I'd been stung by a bee and the stinger was still in there! Nope, the stinger from a bee isn't going to be buzzing and moving around. So, off to the ER my parents dragged me. They tried unsuccessfully to get it out but it was just too darn deep- fortunately they were able to drown the little bugger and give me some small amount of relief as I was in major pain from such a huge bug. Had to go to a surgery center the next day and be heavily sedated for the ENT to get it out.

Yikes!

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I actually read something like this in the paper once. This single mom was living in a place with very poor/limited heat & had to put cotton in the kids' ears at night. Supposedly the roaches would go into their ears for the warmth.

Worst thing I remember from grade school is a kid sticking a pea in his ear & the pea was actually starting to sprout.

.

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Okay, guys, I have seen a lot of things, but today I saw my first bug in a student's ear. It was a frequent flier, at first I thought student was pulling my leg when he said "there is something in my ear." But I figured I'd take a look and likely send him back to class. Take out my basic otoscope and sure enough, there is what may be a beetle in there, nestled a little too far for my taste to try and remove. Friday is never boring...
18ga PIV, remove needle, affix catheter to 10cc syringe, fill with warm water with hydrogen peroxide mixed in, lay student down, place towel intelligently, insert catheter into ear (re-state! NEEDLE IS GONE!) and irrigate away until positive results, keep student reclined/sitting until dizziness passes. BTDT enough.
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Having a bug in my ear is my absolute worst fear ever! One time I thought I felt something crawl inside my ear and I was too afraid to have someone look in case there was something. I started to get dizzy and almost passed out. I used a qtip and cleaned out my ears really good. My mind plays tricks on me and I will feel an itching/tickling sensation at the thought of bugs. June bugs are literally my most feared bug ever and what happened to the above poster will give me nightmares for life. I might have to wear ear plugs at all times.

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My understanding was school nurses are not allowed to extract anything from a ear. Check with your nursing management.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
My understanding was school nurses are not allowed to extract anything from a ear. Check with your nursing management.

Please elaborate as to what has compelled you to your understanding?

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Just had a student from another country that the step-mother rolled up play-do and put it in her ear because 'she wasn't listening.' Also had a camper from Florida that had a tiny amount of sand in both ears. Stated he surfed a lot.

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I had a frequent flier come to me complaining of dizziness last year. Found a dead spider in her ear. I called her momma to take her to the dr since I didn't know if I was allowed to attempt it.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i just had a student with a wad of TP in her ear. She "had NOOO idea" how it got there. I was able to pluck it out with my tweezers since it was on the edge. I was chuckling to myself and thinking of this post the whole time .

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