The girl was admitted to the hospital on 24/7 with severe itching in both ears. Her family said she lives with her grandmother and has close contact with their pet dog.

Doctors performed an endoscopy and discovered two ticks in one ear and three in the other. The dog ticks were alive and attached to the outer ear canal, feeding on the girl's blood. All five ticks were successfully removed.

Endoscopy reveals two dog ticks in the girl's ear. Photo: Hospital provided

Doctor Pham Van Vuong, an ear, nose, and throat specialist in the general surgery department at Quang Ninh Regional General Hospital, said that dog ticks nesting in human ears are uncommon but can cause serious complications. These parasitic ticks are transmitted through contact with pets. They can survive in a child's body for extended periods, causing intense itching and pain, and potentially leading to outer ear infections or bacterial infections from fingernails when the child scratches.

Tick saliva and feces can also irritate the ear canal, resulting in an unusual buildup of earwax, which may even appear black. If not removed promptly, the inflammation can temporarily affect the child's hearing.

"Be cautious when allowing young children to interact with pets to avoid parasitic organisms and infections," the doctor advised. If any unusual signs are detected, take the child to a medical facility for examination and prompt treatment.

Dac Thanh