When worms enter the ear, they usually do not die within a short period of time and may take 24 hours or more to die. Usually, when worms enter the ear, they may survive for a period of time before they gradually die, depending on the type of worm and the size of the worm. If the worms are large in the ear canal, the survival time is shorter; if the worms are small, the survival time is relatively longer. Usually the worms may survive in the ear canal for 24 hours or even longer, and the worms may continue to move forward in the ear canal, leading to perforation of the eardrum and inflammatory infection of the ear canal and eardrum, i.e. otitis externa or otitis media. Clinically, patients often experience pain, tinnitus, and hearing loss. If a worm enters the ear canal, it can be removed by using ear drops into the ear canal, drowning the worm, and then going to the ear, nose and throat department of the local hospital to remove it using special tools, or performing external ear canal irrigation treatment.