We get asked the above question weekly in the ER. Parents arrive with the history that they think their child swallowed a foreign body. We as ER physicians sometimes will get a call from concerned parents, and it is always difficult to know the outcome straight away
The reason for their suspicion is normally associated with the child stating that they swallowed something, or the parents witnessed the event.
For this common complaint, we luckily end up having to do very little in most of the cases. As this very good article explains…..(see link)
Advice for parents:
1) Make sure the foreign body was not inhaled rather than ingested – this is a much more urgent emergency. The child will have coughing / wheezing / respiratory distress. This should be taken to your nearest ER as soon as possible.
2) Most of the ingested items will pass harmlessly through the gastrointestinal tract. If the child is not in severe discomfort straight away, it is of utmost importance to know what was swallowed. Small batteries are very dangerous, as many articles (see link) of children dying because of this will show.
3) Use common sense to assert of there is drooling / discomfort on swallowing / abdominal pain / coughing or vomiting blood after the event. If any symptoms, rather get it checked out.
The reason for their suspicion is normally associated with the child stating that they swallowed something, or the parents witnessed the event.
For this common complaint, we luckily end up having to do very little in most of the cases. As this very good article explains…..(see link)
Advice for parents:
1) Make sure the foreign body was not inhaled rather than ingested – this is a much more urgent emergency. The child will have coughing / wheezing / respiratory distress. This should be taken to your nearest ER as soon as possible.
2) Most of the ingested items will pass harmlessly through the gastrointestinal tract. If the child is not in severe discomfort straight away, it is of utmost importance to know what was swallowed. Small batteries are very dangerous, as many articles (see link) of children dying because of this will show.
3) Use common sense to assert of there is drooling / discomfort on swallowing / abdominal pain / coughing or vomiting blood after the event. If any symptoms, rather get it checked out.
As stated before most of these cases will resolve without further issues, but some do not. I recently had friends’ child swallow a coin. My advice was as above. The next day the little one had dysphagia (painful swallowing) and parents quite rightly took her to her doctor, who took an X-Ray and found a coin lodged in the thoracic inlet. This coin caused discomfort and would not pass by itself and thus needed to be removed under general anaesthetic.
There are not hard and fast rules after initial first aid, but a good dose of common-sense. I stick with my belief that if the parents are worried, I should be worried.
I’ll write something soonest about children and swimming pool care, as the season for open pools approaches…..
Posted in Tips for Kids