BACKGROUND: Foreign bodies in the external ear canal present a frequent situation in pediatric practice. It is generally benign, but infectious complications may occur. POPULATION: Between January 1996 and March 1997, 35 children with a foreign body in the ear canal were treated in the ENT department of Robert-Debré hospital. RESULTS: Age ranged from 15 months to 14 years, with a mean of 6.5 years. The sex ratio was 1.2 (19 boys/16 girls). Five children had bilateral foreign bodies. The most frequent foreign bodies were pearls (8/40) and cockroaches (7/40). Eleven children had complications: ear canal laceration in five cases, otitis externa in five cases, cervical adenitis in three cases, general septic syndrome with fever in one case, and drum perforation in one case. CONCLUSION: The methods of extraction and the management of the complications are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Foreign bodies in the external ear canal present a frequent situation in pediatric practice. It is generally benign, but infectious complications may occur. POPULATION: Between January 1996 and March 1997, 35 children with a foreign body in the ear canal were treated in the ENT department of Robert-Debré hospital. RESULTS: Age ranged from 15 months to 14 years, with a mean of 6.5 years. The sex ratio was 1.2 (19 boys/16 girls). Five children had bilateral foreign bodies. The most frequent foreign bodies were pearls (8/40) and cockroaches (7/40). Eleven children had complications: ear canal laceration in five cases, otitis externa in five cases, cervical adenitis in three cases, general septic syndrome with fever in one case, and drum perforation in one case. CONCLUSION: The methods of extraction and the management of the complications are discussed.