Earwigs exist in almost every part of the world and the myth of their laying eggs in a human ear has survived all explanations to the contrary, although my most recent ear infection had my Thai neighbors telling stories about up-country relatives going to the hospital to discover a nest of insects gnawing at their brains.
No one could name anyone to which this phenomena had happened, but swore it was a common occurrence in the Isaan Plateau.
I googled ‘insect lay eggs brain thailand’ and found a report about the famed Nile explorer John Speke having a beetle burrow into his ear. He attempted to drown the insect in hot butter, then tried to extract the dead carcass with a penknife. The infection from this self-inflicted surgery almost killed the adventurer.
So insects can enter the ear, but few are capable of gnawing a passage from one ear to the other.
Every house in Thailand is infested with thousands, if not millions of insects.
Fenway’s mom is constantly on the prowl for any creatures that my wander into our son’s ear.
She takes her mission seriously as well as she should for I found the following medical advice for insect in the ear.
1.) Evaluate the child’s complaint. Suspect an insect if he or she describes a crunching or popping sound (possibly with a ticklish feeling) in the ear canal.
2.) Remain calm and do not panic. Children take cues from adults. Removing the insect will be much less traumatic if you both stay calm.
3.) Hold the child’s head over a sink or bathtub with the problem ear facing upward.
4.) Fill the ear canal with baby, mineral, olive or vegetable oil. Tug lightly downward on the earlobe to remove air bubbles. Wait two minutes. This will drown the insect, making it easier to remove.
5.) Pour a cup of warm, clean water into the ear slowly, allowing it to overflow.
6.) Watch carefully for the insect to exit the ear canal. If it is not intact, repeat until you remove all fragments.
7.) Still having difficulty? You may have missed seeing the insect come out. Stop what you are doing and allow some time for the ear canal to dry. If the symptoms persist, it is time to call the doctor.
Otherwise my only suggestion is that of my Irish grandmother, who said, “Never put anything bigger than your elbow into your ear.”
Her wisdom doesn’t make much sense until you try to put your elbow in your ear.
Impossible.
I know, because I tried at an early age, when my bones and jointers were limber.