FOREIGN BODIES OF THE EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL IN CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF 95 CASES.

Objective: To carry out a retrospective analysis of children with foreign bodies of the external ear canal (EAC). Patients and Methods: A total of 95 children up to the age of 14 years with foreign bodies of the external auditory canal managed in the department otolaryngology in the period from March 2013 to April 2016 were included. Demographic data recorded included the patient's age and gender, type of foreign body encountered, and how and in what setting the object was successfully extracted from the EAC. The duration of the foreign bodies presence in the EAC was also recorded when available. Results: The total number of patients was 95 and it comprised of 59 males (62%) and 36 females (38%). Thirty five (37%) children were below the age of 5 years, 40 (42%) were 6-10 years of age and 20 (21%) in the age group of 11?14 years. The commonest objects were toy parts and cotton. The commonest presentation was local pain, found in 47% of cases. Other means of presentation include verbal admission by the child (33.3%), incident witnessed by the caregiver (6.8%), bleeding from the ear (4.3%), ear discharge (0.9%), tinnitus (2.6%), fever (1.8%)``and others (4.2%). Nineteen patients (20%) required surgical removal under general anesthesia. Of these 19 patients, 16 (84%) were below the age of 5 years. Morbidity included 7 canal lacerations and abrasions, 2 tympanic membrane perforation, 2 trauma-induced cases of otitis externa. Conclusion: foreign bodies removal from the ear is considered to be a quite common condition in children. Adequate immobilization of the child and proper use of instruments provides an uncomplicated removal of many of these foreign bodies in age group. general anesthesia is considered in very young children and in children of any age with certain foreign bodies whose contour, composition, or location within the external ear canal can lead to traumatic removal in the ambulatory setting.