The Sleepless Mites case - many years ago
FOUND: INSECTS LIVING AND BREEDING IN AN EAR
Sleepless Nights - Flour Mites in an Ear Canal; One Nurses Quest to Identify and Eradicate These Pests
Paul ******* first came to TOLBECS Ear Centre Ltd, Hamilton, in October 2006, seeking help with ‘dust mites’ that had re-infested his ear. Looking through a surgical microscope, RN Rainy Andersen discovered ‘large and small semi-transparent bulbous mites…’ actively crawling along the length of the ear canal and across the Tympanic Membrane (ear drum). Micro-suctioning was used to remove the mites and their eggs, standard ear care practices were advised and a laboratory investigation initiated. Five days later Paul was back; once again he could feel something tap-dancing on his ear drum causing sleepless nights.
RN Theresa O’Leary observed the same ‘numerous, active 8-legged crawling insects in whole right canal’. Theresa asked a Clinical Microbiologist to assist in the identification of live specimens; subsequently he returned a name - Acarus siro, often called the cereal or flour mite. Paul’s ear had been infested while clearing chicken shed floors. After talking with the local vet, pharmacist, and the microbiologist, Theresa decided to use a common head lice and scabies insecticide. This treatment killed the mites allowing Paul to finally have good nights sleep for the first time since 2005.
‘Our household is back to normal!!! everyone gets sleep especially Paul who had to put up with those mites partying in his ears for so long.’ – Denise, Paul’s wife.
This case appears to be unique as research has not revealed any other medical investigation or mention of the same problem. The disruption to the patient’s life is huge – problems result from sleeplessness due to the noise and feeling of the mites moving in the ear canal and across the ear drum. It is also difficult for family and friends to understand what cannot easily be seen, let alone that which has not knowingly been reported before.
TOLBECS Ear Centre Ltd specialises in Nursing care for ears using surgical microscopes with Micro-Suctioning to identify and remove wax, skin or foreign objects safely and gently from the ear canal. TOLBECS has been in business for 6 years and Theresa and Rainy between them have 16 years experience in ear care. Appointments can be made without a referral from a GP and TOLBECS can see clients within a couple of days of the client contacting reception.
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