FOOTAGE has revealed the horrifying moment an ear doctor made a grim discovery inside a patient’s ear during a routine wax removal.
After struggling to hear properly a patient visited an ear specialist for what they thought would be a simple earwax extraction.
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But the Leicester-based “wax whisperer”, Neel Raithatha, noticed something unusual.
Neel said: “As I began removing the ear wax, I noticed a strange black ‘object’ embedded inside.”
It turns out it wasn’t just wax blocking the ear canal.
He said: “I realised it was a dead beetle, stuck in the earwax.”
Read more on ear wax removal
The patient was completely unaware of the creepy intruder that had taken up residence inside their ear.
This particular beetle, identified as a Wheat Weevil, somehow managed to crawl inside the ear and get trapped, ultimately dying there.
Earwax is generally known to repel insects due to its acidic nature, but in this case, it appeared to have had the opposite effect.
The doctor said: “Ear wax usually acts as a natural insect repellent”, explaining that most bugs are put off by its acidity.
However, the beetle was blocked from venturing further into the ear canal, thanks to the sticky wax holding it in place.
Using specialist tools, Neel was able to remove both the wax and the dead beetle, relieving the patient of the bizarre blockage.
He added: “The patient had no idea or inclination that a beetle had crawled inside his ear.”
He admitted to using an online google tool to find find out what exactly the beetle was.
He said: “I even used Google Lens to identify the type of beetle, and it was a Wheat Weevil.
“Yes, the patient was perfectly normal afterwards but other than being slightly worried that another beetle may try to crawl into his ear at night.”
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR
Although this patient had no idea of the terrifying beetle camping out in their ear, there are tell-tale signs to look out for.
You may notice a bug flying inside the ear immediately due to the buzzing sound or the sensation of something crawling inside.
But sometimes, people are unaware of creepy crawlers entering their ear, especially if they’re asleep and will experience pain and discomfort later on.
Common bug in the ear symptoms include:
- Hearing loss
- Infection
- Vestibular complaints (the vestibular system provides the brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation. It helps us maintain balance and stabilize our gaze during movement.)
You may also feel like a foreign object is inside your ear, causing muffled sounds, or you may notice ear drainage, swelling, or even inflammation.
What to do if an insect crawls into your ear
If something crawls into your ear, you can try these steps to remove it:
- Remain calm
- Tilt your head: Tilt your head to the side of the affected ear
- Gently shake: Gently shake your head
- Use oil or alcohol: If the object is an insect, you can try pouring a small amount of warm, but not hot, oil or alcohol into your ear. This can help the insect float out. Don’t use oil if you think there is a hole in your eardrum or if you have ear tubes.
- Use water: If the object isn’t an insect and your eardrum is intact and you don’t have ear tubes, you can try washing it out with warm water using a rubber-bulb syringe. Don’t use water to remove batteries, food, or plant material.
You should stop trying to remove the object if these gentle methods don’t work. You should also seek medical attention if:
- You can’t easily remove the object
- Parts of it remain in your ear
- You experience pain, hearing loss, or discomfort after the object is removed
- You have a history of ear problems
To prevent bugs from crawling into your ear, you can try:
- Sleeping with your windows closed
- Keeping your room clean
- Using bug repellant when camping or spending time outdoors
- Wearing a hat that covers your ears when camping or spending time outdoors
- Wearing earplugs when sleeping outdoors
As frightening as it sounds, creepy crawlers finding their way into ears is not entirely uncommon.
One woman had a cockroach stuck in her a ear for a week after it crawled inside whilst she was asleep.
Although it sounds bizarre, cockroaches are known to crawl into people’s ears in search of food.
Elsewhere, a wince-inducing video shows a man having a giant insect pulled out of his ear after the large critter flew into his lug while he was working in his garage.