Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version
Swallowed Foreign Body
Description
Most nonfood items swallowed by children are coins. Smaller
coins (dimes or pennies) usually pass though the body
easily. Larger coins (and sometimes the smaller ones) can
get hung up at a narrow segment of the esophagus. Dangerous
objects are pointed ones such as nails and toothpicks.
Swallowed glass, on the other hand, usually passes through
the body harmlessly. Button (or disk) batteries are
dangerous because they contain acid or alkali, which can
erode the lining of the intestines.
Home Care
- Diagnostic trial of eating
If your child does not have any symptoms, give your
child some water to drink. If this does not cause any
symptoms, your child should eat some bread or other
soft, solid, carbohydrate food. If this goes smoothly,
the object is most probably in the stomach. Swallowed
foreign bodies almost always make it to the stomach,
travel through the intestines, and are passed in a
normal bowel movement in 3 or 4 days. There is nothing
you can do to hurry it along.
- Checking bowel movements
Normally bowel movements do not need to be checked for
small, smooth objects. However, when the object is
sharp, long (more than 1 inch), or valuable, collect
your child's bowel movements in a diaper or on
newspapers. Cut the bowel movements up with a knife or
strain them through a piece of screen until you find the
object.
- Prevention
Young children who put everything in their mouths must
be protected from small objects they might accidentally
swallow. Check your floors periodically for coins,
buttons, jewelry, small toys, pins, and the like.
The button-size batteries used for watches, cameras,
etc. contain caustic chemicals and these batteries can
cause intestinal damage or death if swallowed. Dispose
of them carefully.
Avoid putting pierced earrings on children less than
4 years old.
Store sewing boxes up high.
Call Your Child's Physician Immediately If:
- Your child is choking or having difficulty breathing.
(Call 911.)
- You think your child has swallowed a foreign body.
Call Your Child's Physician If You've Already Talked with
Your Physician AND Any of the Following Occur:
- The stools are being checked AND the foreign body hasn't
passed in 3 days.
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, or bloody stools develop in the
next 2 weeks.
- You have other questions or concerns.
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