Beijing doctors remove germinated seeds from one-year-old's ear

Medical professionals at the Capital Medical University affiliated Capital Children's Medical Center in Beijing recently treated a one-year-old child who had multiple plant seeds lodged deep within their ear canal. The seeds had begun to germinate inside the ear, facilitated by the warm, moist, and oxygenated environment of the ear canal, which acted as a ‘natural incubator.’

Upon examination by Chief Physician Lu Yingxia, it was discovered that the seeds were tightly embedded and positioned dangerously close to the eardrum. Due to the child's age and inability to cooperate, doctors performed the procedure under general anesthesia, successfully removing all foreign objects within five minutes without causing damage to the ear canal or eardrum.

Medical experts advise parents to follow the ‘three dos and three don’ts’ when dealing with ear foreign bodies. The ‘dos’ include closely monitoring symptoms like ear pain or hearing loss, soothing the child to prevent movement, and seeking professional medical help immediately. The ‘don’ts’ include not attempting to dig the object out with cotton swabs or tools, not dropping water or oil into the ear—as water can cause seeds to swell and become harder to remove—and not delaying treatment if the object is a corrosive item like a button battery.