What to Do When a Cockroach Enters Your Ear
WouterCockroaches can enter your ear and cause an infection. The infection could spread to your sinuses, nose and even your brain if left untreated. It is therefore best to contact a medical professional right away to have the infestation treated. You should also avoid attempting to remove the cockroach yourself with tweezers, which can cause damage to your eardrum. The cockroach may cause strange noises in the night, which is another reason to get help immediately.
While a cockroach will not kill you, it is very painful to have one in your ear. It may scratch the eardrum or even rupture it. If you are lucky, the roach won’t survive too long. If you see it in your ear, you should try to flush it out with warm water and a bulb syringe. If the cockroach is still alive, you should visit an ER provider, who can remove it with graspers and examine the eardrum. You may also be given antibiotic ear drops to help kill it.
If you have tried all of these, you may find that the insect remains in your ear after a while. A doctor can try to kill the insect by flushing it out with sterile water, but these methods can only work temporarily. If the infection persists, you should visit an ear specialist for a proper diagnosis. You should never attempt to remove the insect by yourself, as this can lead to further damage to your ear canal and even permanent hearing loss.
