Q. When should I suspect a possible foreign body of the ear, nose or throat?
A. young children have a propensity to accidentally or intentionally lodge objects in the numerous orifices and cavities of the head, and therefore cause major as well as minor problems. Certainly awareness of the public today is of great help in reducing the incidence of these problems however, a brief review is of help with the more common problems encountered.
Nose - A unilateral (one sided) discharge lasting over a few days, usually yellow with odor should suggest the possibility of a foreign body.
Ear - Either it is easily seen, may cause sudden persistent pain and or discharge, one sided hearing loss, or may be asymptomatic.
Throat - May vary from acute onset resulting from ingesting a foreign body with immediate obstructive symptoms, to later on wheezing or some more mild respiratory complaint. May also cause a digestion problem such as difficulty in swallowing.
All possible foreign body problems when suspected should be treated with professional help in order to make a proper diagnosis and then proceed with appropriate treatment.
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