Clinical Portal 2026Dr. Murali Gopal
Parent guide

Foreign Body in Ear, Nose, or Eye

Safe, parent-friendly steps when a child puts something in the ear, nose, or eye.

Parent GuideReviewed
Do not probeButton batteries urgentProtect the eyeSeek help

Dr. Murali Gopal

Senior Paediatrician & Paediatric Pulmonologist
MCR: 57489
MBBS, DCH(UK), MRCPCH(UK), FRCPCH(UK), CCT Paediatrics (UK), Fellow in Paediatric Pulmonology (Aus), Allergology (Ind)
Last reviewed: 1 July 2026

Objects in the ear, nose, or eye are common, but removal attempts can cause harm. Button batteries, magnets, sharp objects, chemicals, and eye injuries need urgent medical care.

What parents may observe

Ear foreign bodies may cause pain, reduced hearing, discharge, bleeding, buzzing, or a child repeatedly touching the ear. Nose foreign bodies may cause one-sided blockage, bleeding, bad smell, or discharge. Eye foreign bodies may cause pain, watering, redness, blinking, light sensitivity, or blurred vision.

Sometimes the child tells you what happened; sometimes parents only notice symptoms later.

Simple first-aid principles

  • Keep the child calm and prevent further pushing or rubbing.
  • For an eye, discourage rubbing and keep the child from pressing on the eye.
  • If loose dust or sand is in the eye, gentle rinsing with clean water may help while arranging care if symptoms persist.
  • If a chemical has splashed into the eye, rinse with clean running water and seek emergency help.
  • For ear or nose objects, arrange medical review rather than probing at home.

What not to do

DoAvoid
Seek help for objects that are stuck, painful, sharp, or uncertain.Do not use cotton buds, hairpins, tweezers, matchsticks, or suction at home.
Keep the child from rubbing the eye.Do not press on the eye or try to remove something embedded in the eye.
Treat button batteries and magnets as urgent.Do not put oil, water, drops, or home remedies into the ear or nose unless directed by a clinician.

When to seek urgent care

Seek urgent medical care or call emergency services if:
  • A button battery, magnet, sharp object, expanding object, or unknown object may be in the ear or nose.
  • There is eye pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, chemical exposure, bleeding, or an object stuck in the eye.
  • There is choking, breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, drooling, or concern the object was inhaled or swallowed.
  • There is severe pain, bleeding, discharge, bad smell, fever, swelling, or the child is very distressed.
  • Home removal has failed or you are unsure what the object is.

Medical disclaimer

General education only This guide does not replace emergency care, eye examination, ENT assessment, imaging decisions, foreign body removal, or individualized advice from your paediatrician.

References

  1. Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Kids Health Info foreign body guidance. Accessed 22 May 2026.
  2. NHS. Foreign body and eye injury guidance. Accessed 22 May 2026.
  3. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. First aid guidance. Accessed 22 May 2026.
  4. CDC. Button battery safety resources. Accessed 22 May 2026.

Last reviewed: 1 July 2026.

Medical review

Reviewed byDr. Murali Gopal

Last reviewed2026-07-01

Medical review statusClinician reviewed

ReferencesRCH Kids Health Info foreign body guidance; NHS foreign body and eye injury guidance; American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren first aid guidance; CDC button battery safety resources

QR code to open the latest online version of Foreign Body in Ear, Nose, or Eye

Scan to open the latest online version

https://www.drmuraligopal.com/html-conditions/foreign-body-ear-nose-eye-parent-guide.html

This parent guide is for general education only and does not replace consultation with your child’s paediatrician. Please seek medical care urgently if your child appears seriously unwell, has breathing difficulty, poor feeding, dehydration, altered responsiveness, or if you are worried.

© Dr. Murali Gopal | For Patient Education Only This educational material is intended for parent and patient education. Reproduction, redistribution, or modification without permission is not allowed.