Foreign Bodies

No, this isn’t about extra-territorial creatures from outer space. This blog is about tiny foreign bodies that may get into your eyes, ears or mouth and measures that you can take to relieve them.

The human body reacts to anything that does not belong to it, whether it is a bit of a dust, a splinter, bacteria or virus. The body is equipped with antibodies that either kills or neutralizes any foreign body that gets into it. However, there are objects that need to be removed should they enter some of the more sensitive external parts.

Eyes

• Blink your lids repeatedly to stimulate the flow of tears which may wash out the foreign body.
• Do not rub your eyes. This only makes the foreign body embed itself deeper.
• Wash your eyes by dropping in drops of lukewarm water.
• Draw down the lower lid. If the foreign body is embedded in the lower lid, take a moistened edge of a clean handkerchief and gently wipe it off.
  
• Bend up upper lid. If the foreign body is embodied in the upper lid, take a moistened edge of a handkerchief and gently wipe it off.
• If the foreign body is embedded in the pupil or in the colored portion of the eye, do not try to remove it. See a doctor.
  
• If the foreign body has been removed, irritation of the eye can be relieved by dropping in a drop or two of mineral oil or castor oil.

Ears

• No lasting harm can come from a foreign body in the ear. Therefore do not get excited or plug a sharp instrument into the ear canal.
• Have the patient lie and pour in sufficient mineral oil, castor oil or olive oil to fill the canal. Let it stay there for a few minutes. This will usually float out or dislodge a foreign body.
  
• If the foreign body does not come out, take the patient to the hospital.
  

Nose

• Stimulate sneezing by having the patient sniff pepper or by tickling the opposite nostril. This will usually dislodge the foreign body.
  
• If the foreign body is not extruded, take the patient to the doctor.

Splinters

• Only those splinters which protrude from the skin surface should be removed by non-medical persons.
• Grasp the splinter firmly and withdraw it slowly so as not to break it.
• Apply peroxide or alcohol to the area and cover it with sterile bandage.
• If the splinter breaks off beneath the skin, take the patient to a doctor. Most splinters become infected if permitted to remain.
• Do not try to probe deep into the skin for a splinter. You may spread infection or push it deeper.

Swallowed Foreign Objects

• Rounded objects such as marbles, small coins and buttons usually pass through the intestinal tract without causing any disturbance. Strain the stool daily and watch for it.
• Open pins, needles, nails, if swallowed, may cause trouble but the majority of them pass through uneventfully. However, see your doctor. He will x-ray the child and will advise further treatment, if necessary. Strain the stool to note its passage.
• Do not give laxatives to children who have swallowed foreign bodies.
• Give a normal diet to the person.
• Call the doctor if the patient has trouble in breathing or has abdominal pain.