Foreign body ingestion by children

Today let me share with you a true story. Couple of weeks ago, one very anxious couple came to me with their three years old male child Sadik (not a real name). Presenting complain was — Sadik ingested a small key few hours back. Parents were too nervous but Sadik was found playful. A plain X ray of abdomen in erect posture revealed that there was a radio opaque key like shadow somewhere in the intestine.

I tried to make the parents comfort by assuring them not to worry as the key would come out with stool. No medication was given; I just asked them to check the stool to see whether the foreign body came out with stool or not. Anyway on day three they all came with happy mood along with that ingested key.

Ingestion of foreign body by children is not uncommon. Common foreign bodies are being ingested by children in our country are coins, safety pins, buttons, battery of toys or remote control devices, some parts of toys etc.

Children are very curious by nature; they try to explore things by putting them in mouth. Fortunately in most of the cases ingestion of foreign bodies makes no serious problem, but if they are being stuck in the larynx (commonly called the voice box, an organ in the neck involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration) may create emergency situation as respiratory distress is very obvious.

Even after ingestion of any foreign body please don’t be panic, try to be calm and take the child to nearby emergency department of hospital and follow the instruction of the emergency doctor.

Prevention of ingestion of foreign body is very important. To do that try to keep an eye while they are playing with plastic toys like cars, as parts of these toys can be separated easily.

Choosing of the toys should be age appropriate. Buttons, safety pins, batteries etc. are to be kept out of reach of children. In spite of all precautions accidental ingestion of foreign bodies may occur. So instead of being nervous, behave logically. Take care of your kids.

The writer works in the Department of Paediatrics at Community Based Medical College (CBMC), Mymensingh.

E-mail: mmukkhan@gmail.com