My Son Put a Corn Kernel up His Nose

Updated on March 27, 2009
J.L. asks from Holden, MO
23 answers

I was just hoping for some advice. My 23month old was eating dinner with us and he started crying and his finger was 2 knuckles deep! I immediately thought that he had put a piece of corn up his nose and probably tried getting it back out and that's how his finger got so far in. Anyway, I took him in the bathroom and got the nose bulb and a flashlight. He was squirming so much I couldn't really tell if anything was in there. As far as I could see, it appeared clear but he was trying to blow his nose so I knew that something was wrong. Is it possible that it was pushed far enough up that it came out the back side and down his throat? At one point it appeared that's what happened by the face he was making, kinda like when you have a hair on the back of your tongue. He has acted fine since it happened and I thought if it was still in there that it would be bothering him. What do you think? He goes to the dr in a couple weeks for his 2 year check-up. Should I wait and mention something then?

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A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

It is definitely possible for him to shove it up so far that you can't see it. I'd advise taking him to the doc to make sure it's not still up there.

Here's a little anecdotal story for you... When I was about his age, I shoved a piece of cotton up my nose. My parents didn't notice it for weeks. Eventually it started to rot, and that's when they finally knew something was up - I stank! By the time they got me to the doc, I had a horrible sinus infection/ear infection/tonsils were inflamed, etc. I ended up having to have my tonsils out, tubes in my ears, the whole deal. I still have the scars inside my nose and often have to tell my tale to any new doctors that I see.

So yes, I'd highly recommend you'd get it checked out, just to be safe. =p

3 moms found this helpful

M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Yes, my daughter stuck a cinderella shoe up her nose, I didnt see it at first, she told me it was up there, but I didnt see it so I didnt believe. Until she kept scrunching up her nose. So in a panic I thought 3 things, first snot rocket, 2 tweezers, 3 hospital. LUCKILY the snot rocket worked! I will explain. I held one nostral shut while she blew really hard out of the nostral in question and that thing came flying out! Maybe try it. If that doesnt work, I would probably take him to urgent care to check it out. Doctors are probably closed by now. But you dont want to be any damage up there. Good Luck! I hope it comes out!
=(

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C.C.

answers from Springfield on

My son did the same thing with dried corn. We ended up in the ER and the doctor used a skinny suction tube with a ball on the end and in 5 seconds has 3 corn kernals. I had already gotten one out at home. When I took him to the ER I wasn't sure there were any left but when I called the pediatrician she told me to make sure by going there because it could fester and cause more problems later.
Thank goodness the phase was short lived!

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M.M.

answers from Springfield on

This happened recently to a friend of mine. I would not wait until the checkup and would immediately take him to the ER. The nasal cavities are so close to the brain that he could get a serious infection if there is a corn kernel in there. Or worse, I was told, it could go into his lungs which would cause some serious problems. Hope all goes well. They were able to easily take the kernel out of my friends son's nose and told her that it was good that she came in when she did.

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

We had a dog bone (from littlest pet shop, tiny, but I couldn't figure what she was talking about until I saw it) up my granddaughters nose. Luckily I could see it so we just blew lightly and I could grab it! The nose drains into the throat so it could be gone (have you seen the strange clips of people with spaghetti coming out of the nose and mouth, then moving it, Yuck!), I say this because I think it could have gone down to his stomach already. I would try blowing, then taking him to the doctor if you don't see anything. The infection thing convinced me of that. We just took my 2 year old grandson to the doctor Tuesday to get a bead out of his ear, we couldn't see it, but the kids convinced us it was there, the doctors see this all the time and have special tools for these occasions. My granddaughter with the dog bone also had a bead wedged into her ear LOL, I hope she's done with this stuff, she's 4 now. If you have a nurse line, I would call it and get their opinion, that's what we did to decide if it was a 10 at night trip to the emergency room or a wait till the morning trip, we got to wait!

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S.T.

answers from St. Louis on

I would get it checked out because the corn might start to rot!! Good luck!

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E.B.

answers from Springfield on

Okay, I know from experience that you need to take him to the dr. My mother's cousin did it with corn when she was younger and had to be hospitalized in ICU b/c it had gotten into her lungs (VERY DANGEROUS)! And I used to work at a dr. office and we had a little girl come in just b/c she stunk so bad and mom couldn't figure out why! I'm sure you guessed that she stuck something in her nose and it started to rot! You couldn't even be in the same room as her! I wish you the best! Let us know how it turns out!!!

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J.A.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter did the same thing with a pea. I put the thin nozzle on my vacuum cleaner hose, put my finger over all but a portion of it, and put it up to her nostril. Sucked the pea right out. Good Luck!

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A.R.

answers from St. Louis on

Our daughter was about 26 months when she started becoming obsessed with bandaids. We let her wear them all of the time because she was so excited about them. Of course they were the cool Hello Kitty, Dora, Diego, Care Bears, and Barbie ones. Well one day she started having a lot of nose bleeds. She has allergy problems and sometimes gets nose bleeds but these were coming every night and even sometimes during the day. We went to the pediatrician who looked in her nose and said something blue was up there. Wouldn't you know, she shoved a Care Bear bandaid up her nose. It was causing problems.

I am not sure how much damage corn could do but at the very least I would call your pediatrician and see if you can get in early or if they think you should wait. Good luck!!

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K.B.

answers from Kansas City on

You could try to use some saline nose drops and then having him blow his nose.

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L.B.

answers from Springfield on

Hi J.,
My daughter has done the exact same thing. I freaked out not knowing what to do. I was afraid to get the nose bulb out that I might push it up in there further so I tried rubbing some pepper in her hand and making her sneeze it out. I did call the doctor and see what they advised and they acted like it wasn't a big deal at all as long as she was breathing okay. Other than digging at her nose every now and then she seemed to be doing fine. She wasn't half as worried about it as I was. The doctor told me that more than likely it would come out on its own but I would know if it didn't b/c it would start to smell. In which case if that happened I was to bring her in. We then made a game of kind of blowing her nose and smelling her hand where I had smeared pepper in it. She eventually sneezed a couple of times and finally one big sneeze and it shot out and landed on her leg. She found it very funny, and I found it very relieving!! Since then we have had no nose troubles! Good luck to you!!

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J.J.

answers from Kansas City on

Lay your son down on the floor, and hold the nostril without the corn kernel closed. Blow firmly into his mouth, and anything stuck in his other nostril should pop out.

We just had to do this with my daughter last week with a popcorn kernel. I also did it with my other daughter a couple of years ago with a cheerio. Works like a charm.

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T.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I wouldn't wait two weeks for his next appointment. IF the corn is in his nose still, then it could cause an infection, especially after two weeks? I would call the doctor and ask for an appointment Monday just to make sure.

Take care and God Bless:)

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S.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I think if this is my son I might want to call an Ear/Nose an Throat doctor to mak sure of what you are telling us hs been rsolved. Kids sti strane things in strange places it s always good to follow through to not have something develope later from this incident. A friend had a daughter that swallowed a penny and years yes around 16 years latr she had to have surgery because it was stuck in a bd place and she couldot breathe...don't wait til then. It i wrth the call ad check if needed.

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L.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Go have it checked out. My daughter put a plastic bead up her nose at daycare when she was 3 and it got so far up in there we ended up at a Ear Nose and Throat doctor as even her pediatrician couldn't get it out. Better to be safe than sorry.

D.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi J.,

First of all, I wouldn't try anything else to take something out of his nose if I am not sure what is going on.
Just to be sure, take your little one to the pediatrician as soon as you can and before his check-up. Things are going to be OK; keep in mind that kind of things happens to all of us.
Go to the doctor.
Good luck!
Alejandra

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B.S.

answers from Joplin on

My daughter did this when she was just about that age, only with her it was popcorn shrimp. LOL.

Hate to say it, but you have to get him looked at. It could have gone into his sinuses and will eventually cause a mean infection and a lot of suffering, or it could have gone into his lungs (which is what they were afraid of with my daughter, but luckily didn't happen). If it goes into his lungs it will eventually swell and cause breathing issues and infection, with surgery the possible result.

Never hurts to be on the safe side. Get him looked at, please.
:)

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A.H.

answers from Springfield on

When in doubt, get it checked out by a professional ASAP.

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B.P.

answers from St. Louis on

take him to the ER NOW. If you think there is something up his nose and you cannot see it, go. It can become attached to the membranes and could require surgury to be removed. Also, it could have scratched or torn membranes. Better to be safe than sorry.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Better safe than sorry, J.. Call the doctor and move up the appointment. Tell them that you think he may have a corn kernel in his sinus cavity and they'll probably be quite happy to see him right away. If the kernel is still there, getting it out immediately is the prudent thing to do. If it's not there, he needed his 2-year check-up anyway, right? Kids, huh? Don't feel bad, though. I caught my 20 month old picking up cigarrette butts in the parking lot at the park the other day and stuffing them up her nose. Thank God most kids grow out of it! Hopefully ours will, too. Good luck.

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T.J.

answers from St. Louis on

J.,
Sounds like to me you are a very good mommy!
I did this when I was younger. Problem was I shoved a lot of corn up my nose. My mom & dad did exactly what you did. Next they took me to the doctor and the doctor did not see anything either. One day a couple weeks later I sneezed really big and out came 5 or 6 kernels. I am fine to this day and I do not have sinus problems. Get him to the doctor and that will help release some of your tension. Just know, he should be OK.

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K.B.

answers from Wichita on

Good Morning J... I am chuckling reading your note. I did that with a Crayon in the first gr. LOL By the time mom got there to take me to the Dr. I had bent over and it fell out.

From what you have shared J., I would think it moved on down, since it doesn't seem to be bothering him now. Mention it at his check up but I betcha its not there now.

God Bless you all!! Congratulations on your New little surprise on the way. What a blessing

K. Nana of 5

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C.H.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter did this at about the same age. I thought I'd gotten it out, but the next day she had her finger up her nose and said, "I got corn!" I immediately knew what she was talking about, so I helped her blow her nose, and it came out. She then looked at it and said, "I eat it?" So I guess she wasn't too traumatized (don't worry, I laughed and said "no, yucky!").

My cousin put a vitamin up his nose when he was that age, and my uncle had what I thought was a good idea: he blew some pepper up the kid's nose, and little Damon sneezed out the vitamin across the kitchen! Geez, he's in his early 30s now with two little ones of his own. He'd throttle me if he knew I was telling that story!

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