What do I do if I have a foreign body in my ear or nose? | First aid for babies

What do I do if I have a foreign body in my ear or nose?

Children not only like to swallow small objects, but also like to put them into all body orifices. Peas, magnets and small Lego bricks end up in nostrils or ears. Parents often cannot do much more than instruct their child to snort vigorously.

Some objects can be removed directly by the pediatrician or ENT specialist. Others require surgical removal and are the reason for true collections in operating rooms of objects that have been removed from bodies. If there are foreign objects in the nose, children should not be left unattended, as the Lego brick can migrate into the respiratory tract and cause breathing difficulties there. If there is uncertainty about whether the infant has objects in his or her nose, a pediatrician should be consulted as soon as possible. Normally, the children do not suffer from late damage.

What do I do in case of hypothermia?

Babies and toddlers lose body temperature very quickly and can hardly reverse this on their own. Babies lose a lot of temperature, especially over the head, which is still very large and only slightly hairy, so babies should wear a headgear in summer. Children cool down particularly quickly in water.

The water conducts the temperature more strongly and because the children are distracted, they do not notice that they are freezing. Parents should pay attention to whether the children are shivering or have blue lips. The main treatment for hypothermia is warming up.

In case of mild hypothermia, warm clothes are sufficient and especially for newborns, physical contact with the parents is sufficient. In the case of severe hypothermia, visible by the absence of trembling and clouded consciousness, no active warming up with hot-water bottles or rubbing the arms may take place, as this leads to a redistribution of cold blood from the limbs and can thus further restrict circulation. In the case of severe hypothermia, the rescue service must also be called in, whereas in the case of mild hypothermia no medical assistance is required.