Sunday, October 07, 2007

A Bug In Your Ear

How to Safely Remove a bug from your ear.

A little over a year ago, I did a blog entry entitled, "A bug in your ear." Little did I know that this particular entry would become the number one source of traffic on Pohick. I was at the time, using the phrase as a figure of speech or an idiom, and not an actual bug in the ear. Apparently however there is not a lot of qualitative information on the web concerning what to do if you actually get a bug in your ear. I have been amazed at the hundred of queries for "bug in the ear" information. Queries have included:
  • What do I do if I have a bug in my ear?
  • Can a bug live in your ear?
  • How long can a bug live in your ear?
  • How do I know if a bug is in my ear?
  • How do I get a bug out of my ear?
  • Removing bugs from ears?
  • Types of bugs that live in ears?
  • Ear bug removal
  • Put a bug in my ear
I feel bad that there are so many folks dealing with bug in the ear issues. As a public service, I have compiled the following list of references for what you can to do if you have or believe that you may have an actual bug in your ear.
  • Having a live insect in your ear can be extremely uncomfortable.
  • People are often desperate to get the bug to stop moving.
  • If you do not have a known hole in your eardrum, it is usually safe to place a few drops of mineral oil into the ear. This will kill the bug and allow you to calmly and safely continue with additional care. Click here for detail instructions on safely removing the insect from your ear.
  • Removal of any object from the ear can be very difficult, and should only be attempted by a doctor skilled in the techniques of safe removal. Usually this can be done in the office, but sometimes general anesthesia must be used when the object is lodged deeply in the ear or if the patient is uncooperative, such as with a young child. It is important to remember that the most common reason that an ear is injured from a foreign object is because of inadvertent damage occurring during the removal of the object. (Source: www.medicinenet.com)
Here is what it looks like when you have a bug in your ear.  Video.



(** Jake Pohick is not a medical doctor, nor does he play one on TV. This advice is provided as a public service and you should seek competent medical advice as soon as possible.)

How to Safely Remove a bug from your ear.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

I once had a bug get into my ear. And yes, it was very uncomfortable. I had a few drops of alcohol placed in my ear and it killed the bug instantly. Or so I think. I never did get the carcass out of my head. For some strange reason ever since that event I have to shave a set of antenna from my skull.

Anonymous said...

LOL at the comment above

i had a fucking bug in my ear at one stage as well

this was about 3 months ago. and the friggen dead bug just came out a few days ago

grosssssssss

Anonymous said...

I have one right now. Killed the little shit with a mix of alcohol and vinegar, trying to use the same fix as the swimmer's ear. Tried using warm water to coax it out.

I think it's a roach.

Off to the doctor, then.

Anonymous said...

someone tell me if i have a bug i hear munching and moving my ear hurts like hell and i feel my ear very uncomfortable.

Anonymous said...

Today I had a cricket or grass hopper in my ear! I felt a bug go near my ear then my ear kinda bugged me like i had water in it. After 2 hours it started to really hurt so i tryed putting water in it to drown it. Also tryed a q-tip just a lil and prob pushed it more in there and caused my ear to bleed. Went to the hospital and a nurse checked inside and sure enough she saw a bug! She tryed flushing it with water and no bug came out. So she tryed a tweezer tool and it came out!

Rebecca Mast said...

When I can't remember the address for this blog, I just Google "bug in ear." Works every time. :)

Anonymous said...

i felt like i had a bug in my hair but idk how it feels like anyone wanna tell me lol

Anonymous said...

i have a roach in my ear its dead some of his legs and body came out but is it ok to leave the rest in their?

Anonymous said...

We all have bugs in our ear at one point or another. Mine squeaks (no lie) I'm trying this antibiotic ear drop stuff (still hear it) I'm going to try the mineral or sweet oil and pray I get it.

Anonymous said...

a small caterpillar was goin inside my daughters ear .. can please someone tell me if caterpillar usually go inside the ears?

Anonymous said...

I have this popping sound in my ear.
It feels itchy most of the time.
I dunno if its a moth or a roach.
But I'm thinking its a moth.
Ofcourse I fear the worst, a spider.
Is it possible to have a spider in there?

Anonymous said...

Had a bug in my ear. Very uncomfortable. I had to go to the hospital and the docter put this cream inside my ear and killed it. Then used these long tweezer to take it out. It was a huge roach.

Anonymous said...

Just two nights ago i had an odd dream that I was under a bush swatting wasps... As I did so I felt a wasp fly in my ear.....long story short I woke up panicking still with my hand in my ear just as I had dreamt. And I realized I had a freakin bug in my ear! I was scared to crap, as it felt as though it wandered deeper and deeper.... Well I'm only in seventh grade and I'm not studying biology yet so I don't kno exactly how deep or where in my head the ear canal lead....in panick and frustration I ran to my parents room and jumped around squealing there was a bug in my ear. My mom woke up and tried using a special q-tip with a spoon like tip and tried to scoop it out....nothing. So to be sure she tried a little bit deeper and it felt like someone had shoved a lit cigaret in my ear! So she had put some ear drops and it felt as if it was swimming!it was a restless night but,my point being, I still have yet to get it out. How can I tell if there really is a bug in my ear and I'm not just freakin out over a crazy dream/imagination?

Anonymous said...

I had a bug in my ear this morning, it was small so i easily flushed it out with some water. It was the most horrible feeling and to the people who ask how you can tell there is a bug, well trust me, you will know. You can hear/feel it crawling around. So gross.

Anonymous said...

put a flashlight up to your ear the bug will come to the light and and you can get it out or in my case it came out on its on and fell to the floor

Anonymous said...

Just had a termite go in my ear while sleeping. I freaked as I could hear it flapping n there and walking around my ear drum. Not sure what to do I out my iPhone up to my ear and it finally walked out towards the light!!! Thank goodness!! Try that! Otherwise I was going to put peroxide in it and then drain it out. An ear dr. Did that to me once when he thought something was in there. He ended having to go in with a painful vacuum to get wax out. So try either method!

Anonymous said...

A bug flew into my ear yesterday, stupid shit!
Of course, I panicked and immediately stuck my finger in my ear. I could hear it flapping its wings! Nasty. I dug in again with my finger (no google at the time!) and didn't hear it anymore.
Problem is, my ear is hurting today. I wonder if dead bugs in your ear can do any damage? As someone else said... off to the doctor!

Anonymous said...

Most likely that is an insect. If there is something out of the normal that usually isnt there it is more probable that something is wrong. Perhaps its eating your ear drum O_o which is y you hear munching and feel pain. I suggest seeing a doctor immediatly!

Jennifer Schlosser said...

All these bug in ear issuses are grossing me out! Idk this was such an epidemic! Is it safe for my kids and I to sleep with ear plugs in?!!!

Anonymous said...

Not to be thankful for everyone's pain but if that's what you felt then I think my bug is either dead or not even a bug so thanks

Anonymous said...

Was just awakened to this nasty little problem. Trust me, you will know if it's a bug! Poured witch hazel in my ear and I no longer feel movement. I will sleep with ear plugs from now on

Unknown said...

I awoke to an itchy ear in middle of the night. It started burning and itching badly. Them it felt as though there was water trapped in my ear. Then I felt like my ear was bleeding. It felt like blood or liquid was running down my ear. But when I touched it my hands were dry no blood.
It was very frightening I thought maybe something poped inside my head and was bleeding. I was about to go to emergency at hospital which is about forty minute drive. Then I felt something change and fall from my ear. It was a small black beetle still alive. And all the pain went away. However my ear is still a bit sore. (Ron Cyr from Canada )

Unknown said...

I awoke to an itchy ear in middle of the night. It started burning and itching badly. Them it felt as though there was water trapped in my ear. Then I felt like my ear was bleeding. It felt like blood or liquid was running down my ear. But when I touched it my hands were dry no blood.
It was very frightening I thought maybe something poped inside my head and was bleeding. I was about to go to emergency at hospital which is about forty minute drive. Then I felt something change and fall from my ear. It was a small black beetle still alive. And all the pain went away. However my ear is still a bit sore. (Ron Cyr from Canada )

Anonymous said...

I think I have a bug but I'm not sure I don't feel munching or moving or anything but it hurts around my head on that side where the ear is and I can't hear as well in that ear as the other one? bug or not?

Anonymous said...

about how long did it take to walk to the light?

Anonymous said...

I think I have a bug in my ear. I'm not sure cause I don't feel tickling, crawling or any biting. but I'm a hypochondriac and I'm liderally afraid of every disease or problem but I'm just wondering if I have a bug in my ear. I have extreme pain and whenever I blow put of my ears only one of them gets cleared. I put 10 drops of earwax remover in there but the pain is still there. and nothing really came out. I also tried the light by the ear trick and nothing was even crawling. but I can't really hear that well through this ear and I'm just freaked out by the idea of a bug in my ear. and earlier today a bug buzzed by my ear and I swated it. idk someone help!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

thanks to google i got the spider out of my ear with the help of my girl friend she tilt my head and pored the hydrogen peroxide in my ear hole I gotta tell you it felt uncomfortable but at that point i was willing to try anything to get the bug out i stayed calm and weighted till the peroxide fizzed up and and turned over on a wash cloth and the spider came out for thos who are trying to seek answers out there remember to get an insect out of ur ear hydrogen peroxide work like a charm and its safe it worked for me hope it works for you ......

Mels said...

I'm kinda scared that I May have something in my ear. I can't/don't hear anything but it itches really bad.. Its a bit uncomfortable but what really freaks me out is the thought of it being a spider. How can one know without going to a Dr.?

Anonymous said...

I had an ant in my ear once after working outside and I told my mother (a nurse who has dealt with it before) and as long as its small enough ,pour rubbing alchohol in your ear ,wait 15 seconds and then pour peroxide in your ear because it will bubble up ,which causes the bug to come out.

Anonymous said...

You should start with getting a flashlight and shinning into the persons ear. Give it a couple minutes, if the bug is capable it will follow the light. My girlfriend freaked out about a bug in her ear, I got a flashlight to check it out and after a minute a mosquito came flying out, freaked me and and she went ahhhhhh. I couldn't stop laughing for the rest the night and I was her hero. Psh

Anonymous said...

Well, i unfortunately just had the pleasure of going threw this just now and wow what a weird situation to go threw! i was awakened at about 3:30am, i felt something tickle my ear and went back to sleep and i felt it again and jumped out of bed,it had crawled into my ear, i didnt know if i was dreaming or what, i could hear it breathing and moving all over, then it started flapping its wings. i stuck my finger in there trying to squish it out but it didnt work so i turned to the internet. at this time i didnt hear anything so i thought it died, but i continued to search for a answer to get it out. then he started moving again, i began to pray, then i read about putting a flash light next to your ear and so i did just that, i think it took about 15 minutes but it worked! it was uncomfortable but i remained calm and it came walking out and fell out, it was a little black beetle or bug of some sort. This was truly one of the weirdest things that i have been threw. God bless

Anonymous said...

Wow, yeah a bug crawled into my ear this morning. It's still there, but I don't feel pain at least, so that's a plus. I can just feel it move. Anyways, I'll try to use some oil and water to get it out. Didn't know this problem is so common.

Anonymous said...

I had a bug in my ear a while back ago. It was a very tiny thing. To this day I have no clue as to what type of bug it was. I was able to remove the bug using hydrogen peroxide, the fizzing and bubbling that hydrogen peroxide provides forces the bug to crawl out. I would have to say that hydrogen peroxide would most definitely be your best solution as to removing a bug from your ear.

Unknown said...

I don't know if I have a bug i b my eat. I hear a brezze sound I shall say. It hurts from time to time tried flushing it with warn water, nothing. Its 3:00 am and I am tired. I now hear it crawling I think. Time to time it stops, I woke up from the pain. Please help

Anonymous said...



me too....i have not been able to sleep all nite....i can hear it....and no doubt its a poor bug that is stuck....what a drag....thank for posting....

Anonymous said...

my ear hurts. last spring something came out of my ear. it was during my time at an amusement park with my friends. it was dark so i could see what it was. it was round and a little bumpy. no obvious legs or anything. when i gulp my ear sounds weird. when the thing fell out of my ear last time i could feel it shaking when i shook my head. now it just hurts and feels stuffy. its felt this way for a couple months now. i think now that I'm paying attention to it its starting to be something like a placebo. ugh.

Anonymous said...

Yes have had one living in my ear for atleast a week. It finally came out on its own, but now i have issues.

Unknown said...

That just halped me, I just woke up Couse of the bug in my ear, I panicked, tried to calm my self down until I took my phone to Google it then it just fell out

stephanie flint said...

Did it bother your ear any being stuck in there for that long?

Anonymous said...

No go straight to the doctor it may have laid eggs

Unknown said...

How bad should it hurt? I'm still trying to figure out if it's a bug in my ear or just clogged wax or something. I should also note that I haven't felt any serious, gut wrenching pain. But, I'm still scared.

Unknown said...

How bad should it hurt? I've been having ear problems and I'm scared it could be a bug. I haven't had an fit wrenching pain, though, so I'm not sure what to think.