Patient P.V.H (33 years old, residing in Y Yen, Ninh Binh) was admitted to the hospital with pain in the right ear, earache, and difficulty hearing.
The patient said he was sleeping at a humid construction site without a shield. The next morning when he woke up, the patient discovered a strange earache in his ear with a sharp pain. Thinking that it was just a rat ear or a small insect, the patient used a cotton toothpick to wring his ears, but the pain increased fiercely, forcing him to go to Ha Dong General Hospital (Ha Dong) for examination.
Through endoscopy, doctors discovered a live rat, about 5cm long, moving in the ear canal, causing mucous membranes and discharge.
Determining that this was a dangerous foreign object, the team led by Dr. Tran Anh Tuan, Ha Dong General Hospital, performed on-site anesthesia and used specialized tools to safely remove the reptile.
The procedure is done very carefully to avoid the risk of affecting the wardines - a very sensitive area that can cause permanent hearing loss if damaged. After the procedure, the patient was closely monitored, had no complications and was discharged from the hospital the same day.
BSCKII. Nguyen Anh Dung - Head of the ENT Department said: "Ears, nose, and throat animals are not uncommon, especially in places with humid environments with many insects. People should absolutely not arbitrarily use cotton toothpick, sharp object or oil in their ears when suspecting foreign objects, because it can easily make the condition worse. When there are symptoms of pain, ear whining, poor hearing or strange noises in the ear, it is necessary to go to a specialized medical facility immediately for proper treatment".
The case of a 33-year-old patient's ear was a rare case but also a reminder to the community: disease prevention is always more important than treatment. Keeping your home hygienic, sleeping on a mat and avoiding lying in a humid environment will help limit the risk of insects entering the ear - nose - throat.
