title: When the simple migrated hair results in distressing ear symptoms.
abstract: We present 3 patients who complained of distorted hearing, tinnitus and otalgia resulting from scalp and facial hair impacting against the tympanic membrane. Removal of the migrated hair with microsuction relieved symptoms immediately. In 2 cases, the patients had presented to the primary care physician earlier, shortly after a haircut. The family physicians had correctly detected the migrated hair but failed to identify this as the cause of the patient's symptoms. Increased awareness of this potentially common complication will enable the family physician to identify and treat these patients in a primary care setting.
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: yingminhoe@gmail.com.
authors: Ying Min
authors: YM
authors: Hoe
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Tee Sin
authors: TS
authors: Lee
authors: Singhealth, Singapore.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Tan
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Ian Chi Yuan
authors: IC
authors: Loh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004433:Earache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006197:Hair; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D038781:Otoscopy; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane; D055815:Young Adult