Foreign Body Alert: Live Crab Lodged in Boy’s Ear Canal Extracted by Doctors

An unusual medical incident occurred earlier this week when an eight-year-old boy, Pedro, from Mexico City, experienced discomfort in his ear following a family visit to a beach on September 7, 2025. His mother, Kitzia Mitre, a fashion designer and social media influencer with approximately 590,000 TikTok followers, shared the event on her TikTok account, where it garnered significant attention—the extraction video has since been viewed approximately 22.5 million times.

After returning from the beach, the boy began to complain of something moving in his ear. Upon closer inspection, his mother noticed the presence of legs inside the ear canal. Concerned, they sought immediate medical attention at a nearby local health center in Mexico City.

Medical professionals conducted an examination and discovered a live, green miniature crab lodged in the boy’s ear. The crab, still alive—though missing a leg—attempted to crawl away after removal. The medical team used tweezers to carefully extract the crustacean without causing harm to the child.

The boy’s mother documented the procedure, and the video was shared on social media. In the video, the boy is seen holding his mother’s hand as the doctor performs the extraction. He inquires, “Am I going to go blind?” to which his mother reassures him that he will be fine. She also confirmed that no crabs were harmed in filming.

The incident has raised awareness about the potential risks of foreign bodies entering the ear canal, especially during outdoor activities. Experts recommend remaining calm and seeking immediate medical attention if an animal or foreign object becomes lodged in the ear, nose, or mouth to prevent complications.

In this case, the prompt medical intervention prevented any permanent damage, and the child was able to return home unharmed. The video has since gone viral, with millions of views and numerous comments expressing astonishment and concern.

Pedro is feeling well, his hearing was not impaired, and a doctor confirmed there was no injury to the eardrum or inner structures after the removal.

Medical Insights:

When a live foreign body lodges in the external auditory canal (ear canal), it poses several medical risks. First, it can damage the delicate lining of the canal or even the eardrum (tympanic membrane), causing pain, bleeding, or reduced hearing. Organic or animate foreign material may also introduce bacteria or other pathogens, increasing the risk of infection. Retained foreign bodies can lead to inflammation, discharge, swelling, or otitis externa (an infection of the ear canal) if not removed promptly. If the object is hard or pressed tightly against sensitive tissue, it may cause abrasions or deepen tissue swelling.

Additionally, failed attempts to remove the object hastily (especially at home) may push it deeper, increasing injury risk and complicating removal. Following removal, clinicians usually inspect the ear canal for injury and may prescribe topical antibiotic/steroid treatments if there is infection or trauma. In severe or unattended cases, complications can worsen or affect more internal structures of the ear.

(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)