What may increase your risk for problems from an object in the ear?

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What may increase your risk for problems from an object in the ear?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

History of a birth defect, surgery, chronic infection, or injury in or near the ear, mouth, or jaw
History of significant hearing loss
A known perforation of the eardrum
Previous surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
Prior ear surgery
Problems with thinking and reasoning, such as an intellectual disability or Alzheimer's disease
Tubes in the ears
Younger than 5 years of age

Lifestyle choices

Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
Drug abuse or withdrawal

Medicines

Corticosteroid treatment
Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
Radiation therapy

Diseases

Cancer
Diabetes
Hemophilia
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Malnutrition
Sickle cell disease

Credits

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Author	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
Last Updated	February 13, 2008

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Last updated:	February 13, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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