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A routine trip to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist turned into an unexpected source of fascination for one woman after she spotted a display on the wall showcasing dozens of objects that had been removed from patients’ ears and noses over the years.
The eye-catching collection left Kelly Seirer Escue stunned and prompted a question many social media users would soon be asking themselves: how did some of those items fit in there in the first place?
While doctor’s offices are typically filled with health information posters and safety notices, the display Escue encountered was far more unusual. Mounted on a board were a variety of items that had been extracted from patients during ENT procedures, each accompanied by a small label detailing what the object was, the patient’s age, and when it had been removed.
Among the collection were beads, rocks, seeds, toys, popcorn kernels, erasers, bugs, piercings and hair accessories, creating what many viewers described as a surprisingly fascinating exhibit.
Escue was particularly baffled by the size of some of the objects that were removed from ears and noses. After spotting the board, Escue uploaded a clip of the discovery to her Instagram account, @kellyescue.
“Holy moly! We were at the ENT office, and they had two placards of items they’ve found in ears or noses,” she wrote alongside the video.
The post quickly attracted widespread attention online. At the time of writing, the clip had amassed more than 511,000 views and 8,800 likes, with viewers flocking to the comments section to express shock at the sheer variety of objects that had found their way into patients’ ears and noses.
Newsweek contacted Escue via Instagram for comment. The details of the post could not be verified.
As surprising as the display may seem, ENT specialists regularly remove foreign objects from the ears and nasal passages, particularly in children. According to the Merck Manual, commonly removed items include beads, toys, seeds, pebbles and insects, while button batteries require urgent removal because they can quickly damage surrounding tissue.
ENT doctors use a range of techniques depending on the object’s size, shape and location. Small objects may be removed using specialized forceps, hooks, suction devices or gentle irrigation. In some cases, an endoscope or microscope is used to help visualize and safely extract the item. Certain objects, such as batteries, magnets or deeply lodged items, may require urgent specialist treatment.
The display that captivated Escue was not even the practice’s only collection. In a follow-up Instagram video, she revealed a second board featuring even more unusual finds, including a cockroach, a worm, crayons, peanuts and even a metal chain.
Hundreds of viewers shared their reactions in the comments section, with many particularly disturbed by the insects.
One commenter wrote: “I really don’t like that there’s multiple bugs that got stuck in ears.”
Another Instagram user added: “The hair clip in the nose is impressive.”
Another person replied: “New fear unlocked: a bug flying into your ear with the convertible down.”
While one commenter jested: “I would pry this right off the damn wall and take it home with me.”
Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang
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