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Warning signs in children
When a child’s ear, nose, throat or hearing concern should be assessed promptly.
A child who does not turn to sound, whose speech is delayed, or who is often inattentive may have a hearing problem. Glue ear and repeated infections are common explanations, but they need an examination rather than a guess.
Seek emergency care for a button battery or magnet in the ear or nose, noisy breathing, drooling with inability to swallow, neck stiffness with high fever, swelling around the eye, or a child who is unusually drowsy.
Do not try to remove a foreign body at home with tweezers or water. A battery can burn tissue within hours.