Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

Overview:

Ingestion of foreign objects by children is a common occurrence. On average the Ear, Nose and Throat physicians at Children’s Specialists of San Diego see two patients a month that have a coin lodged in their esophagus. This can require sedation and surgical removal. Another, sometimes less obvious risk, involves ingestion of batteries. Batteries, especially the small disk-shaped variety, may seem benign, because there might not be a choking situation. However, ingestion of these items can be very serious and even life-threatening, as they can erode tissues in the body. Disk batteries also pose a serious risk if placed in the ear and nose canals, as tissue erosion can also occur in these areas.

Some Tips for Preventing Ingestion of Foreign Objects:

• Parents should be vigilant about monitoring toys for loose small parts.
• Educate older children to not give their smaller siblings toys or other objects (coins, batteries, etc.) which may present a choking hazard or health risk.
• Keep risky objects out of the reach of children (balloons, household cleaners, etc.).

Symptoms of Ingestion of Foreign Objects:

• Drooling
• Resistance to eat or drink
• Red area around the mouth
• Choking

Links to other helpful information on Foreign Body Ingestion:

• American Academy of Pediatrics website - Choking Prevention:
  http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Choking.htm
• Selecting Safe Toys:
  http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_ToySafety.htm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website - Choking:
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/choking.htm
• Consumer Product Safety Commission - Toy Recall List:
  http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html
• Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego - Choking Prevention:
  http://www.rchsd.org/yourchildshealth/healthsafety/injuryprevention/tipsforpreventinginjuries/C007724