Rules of conduct when swallowing foreign bodies

From about 7 months, children begin to put various toys and objects into their mouths. This is caused by the desire to massage the gums to get rid of itching during teething. Older people can taste something unusual. Between the ages of 1 and 3 years, approximately 20% of children swallow some small items. The pediatrician will tell you how to understand that a child has swallowed a foreign object. The employees of the Daughters-Sons online store will help you choose safe teethers.

Signs that a child has swallowed a foreign object

To prevent your baby from putting small items into his mouth, provide him with safe teethers, especially during the period when his first teeth appear. The “Giraffe” model, made of environmentally friendly plastic, is perfect.

If an infant puts something inedible in its mouth, parents should immediately remove the foreign body. If a baby swallows a tiny product without sharp parts, he may only choke. Swallowing a large, toxic or sharp object causes pain and nausea in the throat and esophagus. Severe vomiting and traces of blood in the stool may occur.

Symptoms if a child swallows a foreign object:

• anxiety caused by abdominal pain;
• nausea and vomiting;
• frequent belching and excessive salivation;
• blood in the stool;
• refusal of any food;
• increase in temperature (cause - intoxication);
• bad mood, crying.

If you detect at least one of the listed symptoms, you should call an ambulance. Small buttons and parts from a rattle can pass out of the body naturally. To be sure, check the contents of the diaper. If the baby is not capricious and behaves normally, you can wait, but no more than two days.

Important!

How can you tell if a child has swallowed a foreign object? When children are still unable or afraid to answer their parents’ questions, it is necessary to undergo an examination: an ultrasound, x-ray or endoscopy. It is necessary to examine the respiratory tract, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.

The baby should be shown to the pediatrician first. Doing an enema at home, inducing vomiting, or giving laxatives is strictly prohibited. This will spoil the complete picture before the examination.

conclusions

How do you know if a child has swallowed a foreign object? This may be indicated by vomiting, nausea, crying from severe abdominal pain, detection of mucus or blood in the stool, as well as excessive salivation, high fever and lack of appetite. If you have such signs, you should immediately go to the doctor. Negative consequences can be avoided if you offer your baby educational toys that cannot be disassembled and do not contain sharp parts.

Correcting malocclusion is a complex and lengthy process. The patient has to wear the system on his teeth for two or more years.

During this period, the correct operation of the correction mechanism may be impaired. A common problem is when a brace comes off.

The bottom line is that the adhesive used by the orthodontist for fixation cannot remain strong indefinitely. And even if the elements of the system are “dead” glued, dismantling them at the end of treatment will be quite problematic.

It’s good if the arch remains in the bracket groove after peeling off. It can be removed and secured to the surface of the tooth using wax.

But what if the lock was accidentally swallowed? In this article, we will consider the possible consequences of swallowing individual parts of the corrective system and ways to solve the problem that has arisen.

Causes of fixation disorders

The contacts of a lock fixed with glue on the surface of a dental unit may become weaker for a number of reasons, each of which contributes to the disconnection of the corrective link of the system.

Let's look at them in detail:

1. Inadequate system maintenance. Many people believe that hygienic cleaning of braces is no different from the usual oral care procedures.

   This opinion is wrong. The system must be cleaned after every meal.

   Ignoring this rule can lead to the formation of hard deposits on the teeth, the formation of carious cavities near the fastening contacts, and weakening of the adhesion of the glue that was used to fix the braces on the surface of the teeth.

2. Abuse of hard and sticky foods. Each patient should understand that after installing the braces, the diet will be partially changed.

   It is forbidden to eat foods that are too hard or sticky. For a while you will have to forget about crackers, toffees, nuts, chewing gum, etc.

   The fact is that during the correction process it is extremely important to maintain optimal functionality of all components of the system.

   If an unexpected breakdown occurs and the patient swallows one of the elements, then the reason most likely lies in a violation of medical recommendations regarding dietary restrictions.

3. Inaccurate operation of the structure. The system consists not only of locks, arcs and springs, but also of secondary elements.

   And if the orthodontic wire element is characterized by increased strength, then braces and spring parts are practically devoid of this significant property.

   Based on this, the patient must comply with a number of restrictive requirements: refuse to engage in contact sports, avoid fights and facial injuries.

4. Excessive hot or cold food. Dangerous product - ice cream. It can be eaten when thawed.

   The fact is that significant temperature changes have a detrimental effect on the adhesive properties of surfaces, thereby causing the lock to come off. For the same reason, you should refrain from drinking very hot drinks.

Dangers of elements entering the esophagus

It is worth noting that the swallowed ligature does not entail health consequences. The elastic element comes out in the usual way for the body, and part of the burst wire ligature will most likely be dissolved by gastric juice.

If part of the arc gets into the digestive system, this can result in damage to soft tissues. Therefore, the patient must seek help from a medical facility.

Before visiting a doctor, it is forbidden to eat, which will help prevent debris from entering the stomach.

A part of an orthodontic arch that gets into the esophagus can cause a number of serious complications, namely:

• mediastinitis;
• paresis;
• organ perforation;
• injury to the trachea, bronchi;
• periesophagitis;
• paralysis of the inferior laryngeal nerves.

After being hit by an element of the corrective system, the patient must pull himself together, not give in to panic and immediately seek medical advice.

In fact, possible unpleasant consequences caused by swallowing an intact lock are excluded.

Such a problem cannot promise serious health problems, since the biologically pure materials from which the correction system is made are absolutely safe for the human body.

The brace will not remain in the digestive tract, but will soon come out naturally. Sharp damaged contours of the part cannot injure the walls of the esophagus, stomach or intestines due to the small size of the product.

Remarkable! In any case, instead of a detached bracket, a new link is inserted into the orthodontic system. Once swallowed, the product must not be reused.

Inhalation of small parts

Getting structural elements into the respiratory system is very dangerous. A bracket or piece of arch can partially/completely block the lumen of the trachea and bronchi. If the overlap is partial, ventilation of the lungs becomes difficult.

Full overlap works like an air flow regulator. That is, when you inhale, air enters the lungs, and its exit when you exhale is blocked. This condition can cost a person’s life, so medical assistance must be immediate.

At the slightest suspicion of aspiration, the doctor prescribes an X-ray examination, auscultation and endoscopic diagnosis of the trachea and bronchi.

Before the ambulance arrives, first aid measures must be taken. Firstly, do not cough too much under any circumstances. The fact is that when a foreign object enters the glottis, the body’s reflex mechanism is triggered.

The muscles are in a state of spasm, which causes coughing attacks. However, clearing your throat hysterically will not remove the object; on the contrary, such a defensive reaction further aggravates the situation.

Secondly, it is important to find a person nearby and ask for help, which consists of the following actions:

1. Tilt the victim's torso forward and lightly hit the interscapular space with your palm.
2. Stand up to the person, wrap your arms around his ribs and lock them together. Using the protruding joint of your thumb, press firmly into the epigastric area. Repeat the manipulation more than once.

Treatment of a patient with a brace or other part of the corrective system in the respiratory tract is carried out in the otolaryngology department using endoscopic forceps and under general anesthesia.

Actions of specialists

As a rule, a swallowed foreign object passes through the esophagus and comes out naturally after 3-6 days. Despite the comforting forecasts, X-ray monitoring in a clinical setting is mandatory.

The study will help control the movement of an object through the intestines. If an intact, swallowed bracket cannot cause harm to health, then a part of an orthodontic arch that ends up in the digestive tract can become potentially dangerous to a person.

The sharp edges of the wire element can catch on soft tissue as it moves through the digestive tract.

In any case, after swallowing a brace system element, you should consult a doctor. Let us consider in detail the essence of medical care for ingestion of component parts of the structure.

The first action of a doctor upon admission of a patient with complaints of swallowing a foreign body is to classify the object by material, size, shape, and deformation.

To determine the degree of danger of a product, you need to know a number of parameters:

• length (especially important if part of the arc was swallowed);
• shape of edges and surface (sharp, blunt, round);
• material (metal, plastic, sapphire);
• characteristics of radioactivity, chemical inertness.

It is important to note that any metal object that enters the digestive tract can be potentially dangerous. Risks increase if one of the listed factors occurs. For example, at the same time: metal with sharp edges.

A stuck element of the corrective system in the digestive lumen can provoke spasms, pain, difficulty swallowing, and gagging.

Regardless of the characteristics of the part that has entered the digestive tract, mandatory diagnostic studies are carried out. The doctor examines the neck, larynx, pharynx, and also prescribes x-rays and esophagoscopy.

These instrumental research methods make it possible to assess the condition of the walls of the esophagus and identify possible damage.

Thanks to two projections of the radiograph, a specialist can easily examine the radiocontrast – a bracket, part of an arch, or a ligature. Based on the data obtained, surgical or conservative treatment is prescribed.

In emergency situations, when there is damage to internal soft structures, therapy is based on the immediate removal of a foreign object from the lumen of the esophagus.

Conservative methods consist of prescribing medications to the patient that have enveloping properties. Furacilin washes and a specially designed short-term diet are also appropriate.

If the above methods are ineffective, the specialist prescribes endoscopy, which allows you to quickly remove the element using a fibroesophagoscope. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

If components of the corrective system enter the respiratory tract, a physical examination, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics will be required. The doctor must assess the general condition of the patient, determine vocal tremor, and the color of the skin and mucous membranes.

Clinical tests help evaluate severe bronchopulmonary disorders. The patient also needs to undergo chest X-ray and fluoroscopy.

Non-drug treatment includes physiotherapeutic measures aimed at suppressing inflammatory processes in the bronchopulmonary system. Inhalation therapy has also proven effective.

During surgical treatment, endoscopic interventions are used. The choice of technique is made taking into account the location of the element, the age category of the patient and the severity of adverse consequences.

For reference! Metal objects are removed using magnets.

In the video, the patient will talk about his unpleasant experience of unsticking the braces.

Precautionary measures

If during the correction process the patient’s bracket comes off and is swallowed, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor. The fact is that this situation mainly affects the integrity of the structure, and therefore the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment.

You can go without a brace for a maximum of 7 days. A longer period entails irreversible consequences. Dental units are in a state of continuous movement, and changes to the entire structure will be difficult to eliminate.

To prevent this, it is important to strictly follow medical recommendations after installing braces.

The patient’s task is to adhere to a gentle diet, exclude hard and sticky foods from the diet, carry out careful and regular care of the structure, monitor the integrity of all elements and the reliability of their fixation.

It is common for a small child to explore the world not only with the help of standard senses, but also with the sense of taste, so most babies put whatever they like into their mouths - toys, books or a dirty shoe. Most of these items do not pose a risk to the health of the baby, unless pathogenic bacteria enter the stomach with them. However, other situations also happen - the parents did not take care of the child and he swallowed something that could harm the body and even lead to death.

If a child swallows a battery

Cases when a baby swallows batteries are not at all uncommon, because most modern toys work with them.

Finger and finger batteries are especially dangerous, as they can get stuck in the throat or esophagus and cause breathing problems. If a child bites an object before swallowing it, the seal of the battery is broken and the electrolyte leaks out of it faster.

What is the threat?

• Electrical burn of the mucous membranes due to the voltage generated in the humid environment.
• Electrochemical burn. When electrolyte leaks out, tissue integrity is compromised.

Symptoms that should alert you:

• profuse drooling;
• temperature increase;
• nausea and vomiting;
• feces mixed with blood;
• lethargy, lack of appetite, moodiness;
• pale skin;
• the child may complain of abdominal pain, squat, bend over, etc.

The most effective way to identify a foreign object in the stomach is an x-ray; doctors also palpate the abdomen and prescribe a blood test.

The main methods are the use of a fibrogastroscope, the surgical method, gastric lavage and the use of enemas and laxatives. The battery is removed under general anesthesia, as the process is quite complex.

If a child swallows a ball

Many mothers and fathers are interested in what will happen if a child swallows a metal ball. Most often, these are balls from magnetic construction sets that connect sticks with magnets; most children aged three years and older have these.

Doctors strongly recommend going to the hospital immediately; the baby should be observed by a specialist for some time, even if there are no visible symptoms and the child feels well. Swallowing metal objects most often causes unpleasant health consequences. Metal balls (especially when there are several of them) cause damage to the intestinal wall and bleeding, which is why it is so important to make sure that the foreign object is removed from the body.

If a child swallows a coin

First, let’s decide what absolutely cannot be done if a child swallows a coin, and this is:

• do an enema or give a laxative so that the item comes out naturally at home;
• give bread or other food to push the coin;
• immediately rush to remove it.

Make sure the coin is not in the airway. If your baby feels well, wait for a bowel movement. Feed your child foods that are rich in fiber, then the results will not be long in coming.

If the condition of the baby causes you concern, take an x-ray; it will show exactly where the coin is and whether its location is dangerous. The most undesirable outcome is the presence of an object in the bronchi; in this case, surgical intervention cannot be avoided.

If a child swallowed glass

It often happens that children break glass objects or mirrors and put small fragments into their mouths; here everything will depend on the shape and size of the foreign object, because due to the sharp edges it can simply get stuck in the intestines or esophagus, this is especially dangerous in the second case, After all, a baby’s esophagus is very sensitive.

It’s not so scary if a child swallows a small glass bead; it’s another matter when it’s a fragment of a bottle or a New Year’s toy. In any case, call an ambulance first and then try to get it out yourself. To do this, open the baby’s mouth, press on the root of the tongue and watch carefully, perhaps the fragment will be removed along with vomit or saliva.

After two hours, the object ends up in the intestines; nothing can be done; even radiography cannot reveal its presence. Feed your baby porridge and boiled vegetables to remove the splinter naturally. It is forbidden to induce diarrhea - do an enema or give a laxative.

If a child swallows gum

Most young children do not yet know how to use chewing gum and often confuse it with candy. This scares parents, because there are many horror stories about how chewing gum remains in the stomach for years without decomposing and poisoning the body.

In fact, neither you nor the child will most likely notice anything; the treat will be eliminated from the body with digested food. It’s another matter if the baby complains of abdominal pain, nausea and is capricious, in this case it would be a good idea to see a doctor.

What negative consequences can occur when swallowing chewing gum?

If a child swallows a tooth

There are times when a child accidentally swallows a loose baby tooth, often while eating. Parents have a reasonable concern: will it damage internal organs? There is no need to panic, unless, of course, the child choked on an object.

Dentists assure that baby teeth do not pose any danger if swallowed, because they are not at all as sharp and strong as permanent incisors or fangs. It will simply dissolve in the stomach, so don't worry, feed your baby a hearty lunch and wait for the intestinal contents to come out naturally.

If a child swallows a toy

In the practice of pediatric surgeons, the removal of foreign objects most often occurs from one to three years of age, when young researchers are actively exploring the world. But even at the age of 5-6 years, such cases are not uncommon; some doctors even collect entire collections of things extracted from the esophagus and stomachs of children.

During the game, children pull an object that interests them into their mouths, for example, a piece from a construction set or a toy from a Kinder Surprise. The consequences will directly depend on the shape and size of the toy; some of them are not at all dangerous and leave the body unhindered.

Particularly “popular” among children are small plastic parts from construction sets, caps from felt-tip pens, etc. Due to the special structure of the larynx of young children (adults have a supraglottic cartilage that prevents foreign bodies from entering the respiratory tract), they easily choke on objects. It is difficult not to notice the fact of suffocation; it is accompanied by coughing, whistling, difficulty breathing and a hoarse voice. It's good if your baby is able to clear his throat on his own, but if you see him begin to lose consciousness, immediately use methods to remove the toy from the respiratory tract.

If a child swallows a pill

Often adults neglect safety rules; a child can easily eat one or a handful of brightly coated tablets.

Common symptoms:

• redness or paleness of the skin;
• dilated pupils;
• nausea, vomiting;
• stomach ache;
• cold sweat;
• elevated temperature;
• convulsions;
• cardiopalmus.

If the baby is talking, ask him how many pills he took, when it happened, what the names of the swallowed drugs are and what he is complaining about. After this, call an ambulance and give the doctors all the information, so they will determine the possible effect of the drugs on the body and select treatment. The child will most likely be examined, regardless of whether external symptoms exist or not. The drugs are not immediately absorbed into the blood; until then, it will be difficult to determine the extent of their effect.

If a child swallows mercury

Probably, almost every family has had a thermometer broken at least once; everyone knows the damage to health caused by inhaling mercury vapor; this dangerous chemical poisons the body to the point of death. But what to do when a child swallows mercury?

Immediately induce vomiting in the victim and call an ambulance; doctors will perform a gastric lavage and hospitalize the child to monitor his condition. In most cases, mercury balls pass through the esophagus and are excreted along with bowel movements, without causing significant harm to health. It’s worse when children start playing with the substance, inhaling its vapors at the same time, so be sure to keep the thermometer out of the child’s reach.

Babies are creatures that require constant attention and control. As soon as they have learned to crawl and walk, reach shelves and drawers, parents need to remember that the child explores the world with his hands and mouth, which means there is a high probability of putting something in this very mouth and swallowing or inhaling. A condition where a child swallows or inhales a foreign body can be life-threatening and life-threatening. Therefore, you need to know how it manifests itself, why it is dangerous and what to do.

Foreign bodies in the digestive system

In pediatric surgery, foreign bodies, especially in children in the first years of life, are not uncommon; doctors even collect their own museums of what is found in the bodies of children. According to statistics, every fourth child aged from one year to 5-6 years has swallowed foreign objects at least once in his life, greatly frightening his parents.

Putting toys and objects into the mouth is one of the stages of a baby’s development, the “oral stage” of learning about the world, in this way the child receives information about the shape, properties and taste of objects. And the task of parents is to make learning the world through the mouth safe. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor what gets into the baby’s hands and mouth: these should be large objects and safe surfaces. However, we are all human, we are often forgetful and absent-minded, and it is not always possible to keep track of the baby.

Most often, foreign objects fall during games if the baby is very interested in some object. The outcome will depend on the size, shape, surface and type of object; not all of them are dangerous for the baby. Small foreign bodies can easily leave the body on their own. Parents will be happy to find something missing at the bottom of the pot. However, there is always a chance that the swallowed object will become stuck in the esophagus or intestines. Only fairly large or complexly shaped objects can remain in the stomach.

If a foreign body is in the esophagus

This is a very dangerous situation, since the child’s esophagus is very sensitive and vulnerable. In addition, it has muscle groups that can spasm when irritated by the edges of an object and lead to complications. Therefore, you need to know what should alert you to your child’s well-being. First of all, when swallowing, the child will complain of pain, and he will point to the sternum area and inside the chest. In addition, when swallowing saliva, he will complain of discomfort, and he may not even be able to swallow solid food. Dangerous in children is the appearance of nausea and vomiting, as well as coughing. If such symptoms occur in a child, immediately contact the nearest hospital and undergo an examination. Delay in the event of such symptoms is dangerous due to perforation (formation of a hole) of the esophagus with bleeding and the entry of food into the chest area - this is life-threatening.

Foreign body in the digestive system

Often, when parents discover that the baby has swallowed something, but it does not manifest itself in any way externally and does not cause discomfort, then mom and dad choose a wait-and-see approach. However, it is not always possible to wait for the release of a foreign body, even if the baby is apparently healthy. There is a category of objects that are dangerous by the very fact of their presence in the digestive system; waiting for them to appear in the pot is very dangerous for the health, and sometimes even for the life of the baby.

So, potentially dangerous, and therefore requiring immediate assistance from a specialist, include:

• needles, pins, pushpins, paper clips, toothpicks, fishhooks, nails, and other very sharp and small objects
• objects from three centimeters in length
• batteries and batteries of any type and kind - watch, finger, little finger, from toys
• magnets, especially if the child has swallowed more than one
• glass, pieces of ceramics with sharp edges
• large fruit pits - peach, apricot, plum

It is possible to monitor a child if he has swallowed an object of a streamlined shape (buttons, rounded stones, balls, coins) and small size. Then the waiting period will be from one to 3-4 days with constant careful examination of the child’s stool. If during this time the item is not found in the contents of the pot, you should consult a doctor.

In the case where you did not see the swallowing process with your own eyes (for example, you scattered coins and pulled them into your mouth), a thorough inspection of the apartment would be useful. Perhaps the item rolled under a sofa or closet, and you don't need to worry.

What is possible and what is not?

A common mistake parents make is giving their child a series of enemas, or using laxatives to make the object come out faster. This is unacceptable, since a foreign body in itself is a stress for the digestive system, and acceleration of its work can lead to injury to organs by the edges of the object, or it getting stuck in the intestines and the formation of intestinal obstruction.

If you are absolutely sure that the child has swallowed a dangerous object, call an ambulance and, until it arrives, do not attempt to remove it yourself, so as not to cause additional injury. You should not try to shake out the object, push it further with a crust of bread, you should not give water or feed the child (if the object is large, has sharp edges and requires removal).

If it is a small coin, a button or a small ball, an object with smooth edges, up to 1-2 cm in size, some measures can help the child remove the foreign object from the body - for example, eating foods rich in fiber - fruits, vegetables or bran.

If you are not sure that the object was swallowed, and also if you do not know exactly what the baby swallowed, carefully monitor his condition for three days; if any disturbing symptoms appear, immediately seek help from surgeons at the children's hospital. Such dangerous manifestations include:

• abdominal pain, localized or diffuse, which does not subside, but on the contrary, intensifies
• the child experiences nausea, vomiting, usually repeated
• the child has blood in the stool after or between bowel movements
• any other unclear symptom that was not present before the child swallowed the object

All these manifestations require immediate inspection; it is better to play it safe and thereby avoid danger.

Foreign body in the respiratory system

From the mouth, a foreign body can fall either into the esophagus or into the respiratory tract. The latter circumstance is much more dangerous, as it leads to disruption of the supply of oxygen to the lungs. A special feature of a child’s respiratory tract is that it looks like branching tubes of decreasing diameter. The entrance to the larynx is through the vocal cords, which close tightly and prevent the foreign body from coming out. In addition, a child’s trachea and bronchi are pliable and soft; when coughing, a foreign body can be “hammered” into them. If the body is large enough to block the trachea, suffocation and death can occur. When it enters a large bronchus, varying degrees of respiratory failure are formed.

Most often, children from one to 3-5 years of age suffer, who put everything in their mouths, and in addition, this often happens when playing, pampering, laughing, crying, talking at the table. Most often, seeds, nuts, pieces of food, beans, grains, sunflower seeds, husks, small toys, balls, candies, and threads enter the respiratory system.

How does this manifest itself?

The right bronchus is most often affected; it is wider and larger, therefore, first of all, a paroxysmal cough, weakened breathing, and a lot of whistling noises in the lungs are noted. In addition, there is a sign of severe stenosis of the upper respiratory tract - suffocation with prolongation of inhalation, blueness of the face, sensation of a foreign body and a wheezing voice. If a foreign body is stuck in the trachea, you may hear a popping sound when you scream or cry. In addition, a foreign body is also dangerous due to complications - especially if it is food products with oil or fat. Chemical bronchitis, pneumonia, and purulent abscess may develop. If a foreign body perforates a bronchus, this can lead to mediastinitis - a purulent inflammation of the chest cavity that is life-threatening.

If you notice such symptoms, immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital yourself. Do not try to remove a foreign body yourself if the child can breathe, even if he cannot suppress the cough.

If the child turns blue, there are attacks of suffocation, urgently call resuscitation, and before its arrival try to remove the foreign body using some techniques.

For a child up to one year old
Place his stomach on your forearm, supporting his chin and back, face down, head at about a 60-degree downward angle. Apply about 5 blows between the shoulder blades with the edge of your palm, look into your mouth to see if a foreign body has come out. If there is no result, we place the child with his back to his knees, placing his head below the level of the butt, perform 4-5 pushes just below the nipples of the breast, without pressing on the stomach, if the body comes out, remove it. If nothing works, before the ambulance arrives, try to perform artificial ventilation and repeat the techniques.

For a child over one year old
Go behind the baby, wrap your arms around his waist, and press on his stomach between the navel and the xiphoid process. It is necessary to make a sharp push upward, 4-5 times with an interval of 3-5 seconds; if the foreign body comes out, it is removed. If not, repeat the actions and calm the child down.

How are they treated?

Children with foreign bodies are hospitalized in the pediatric surgical department. The first step is to clarify where the foreign body is stuck and what its nature is. If it is an iron, radiopaque body, it is easy to detect on an x-ray. But food and plastic are not visible on X-rays. Often, for diagnosis and simultaneous treatment, endoscopy of the digestive or respiratory system is used. A thin tube with a camera and forceps at the end is inserted into the esophagus, stomach and intestines, their walls and contents are examined, the body is grasped and removed. The procedure is sometimes performed even without anesthesia.

With the bronchi, everything is more complicated - all manipulations there are done only under anesthesia, otherwise the glottis will close and the device will not pass through. After this, the child is monitored, and if necessary, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infection of the bronchi and lungs.

Precautionary measures

Most often, such incidents are the result of parental carelessness. Therefore, as soon as the baby starts crawling, walk on all fours throughout the apartment and remove all small and dangerous objects from his access area. Buy toys that are appropriate for their age, without small parts and durable ones that the baby cannot break or break. Do not leave your child to play with coins, buttons, or cereals unattended. If you need to leave the room, carefully inspect the toys, or better yet, take the baby with you. Do not let your playing child out of your line of sight!

Sad statistics show that every year millions of foreign bodies enter the gastrointestinal tract, and a significant proportion of these patients are children. This occurs as a result of careless handling of small objects, parental oversight or, in rare cases, intentionally.

What to do and how not to get confused if you and your child find themselves in such a situation?

Risk factors

Foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract are common. And, despite the fact that 80-90% of foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract without any problems, a significant number of children die from them every year.

Most often, in children, the diagnosis of “foreign body of the gastrointestinal tract” is made in early childhood, from 1 to 3 years. Why?

The fact is that this is the most inquisitive and active period in children. In the second year of life, children quickly begin to move around and explore previously inaccessible territories and objects, some of which must strictly be kept out of the reach of children. After all, the child needs to turn and examine the object from all sides, be sure to smell it, and most importantly, determine the degree of edibility of this or that object.

Many parents believe that from one to three years is the most beautiful age period. Of course, it brings them great pleasure from communicating with their child, but it also requires greater care and control. At this age, the pace of neuropsychic development is very high, the child quickly acquires skills - he learns to take a mug, handle a spoon and fork, get dressed, in a word - take care of himself.

But simultaneously with these skills, other abilities also develop. The baby learns to open various drawers and boxes, unscrew the lids, substitute a chair and reach all kinds of shelves where there are a large number of different things interesting to him, some of which are potentially dangerous for the child. And such acquaintance is often too close, threatening his health.

Another important feature of this age is the unconsciousness of children. After all, the child is not always aware of what can be done and what cannot be done - and curiosity turns out to be stronger than prohibitions. The main questions for children are: “why?”, “why?”. And, of course, they definitely need to check everything in practice on their own. The combination of all these features explains the high level of injuries, accidents in everyday life and doctors’ good knowledge of the problem of foreign bodies, including the gastrointestinal tract.

How do foreign bodies enter a child's body?

Most often, foreign bodies enter the child’s gastrointestinal tract accidentally. During play, they are involuntarily swallowed as soon as the child becomes distracted and loses control over the object he is holding in his mouth. Usually these are small things - toys or their parts, coins, buttons. It can also be large pieces of food or fruit seeds. Often children, fearing punishment, hide this fact from their parents, and if the child has no complaints, the foreign body may not be detected very soon or may not be detected at all, because in most cases, small objects come out on their own within 2-3 days. As a rule, the child does not experience any unpleasant sensations.

At the moment of swallowing, preschool children are dominated by fear and a feeling of an unpleasant “lump” in the throat. If the object is large in size, then after swallowing, choking, nausea, and vomiting may appear.

In most cases, foreign bodies pass unhindered through the gastrointestinal tract, exit naturally and do not require treatment. During this period, the child needs the supervision of a specialist who can track the progress of the foreign body through the intestines. To speed up this process, doctors advise ingesting substances that promote the movement of food masses through the intestines (vegetable oil, etc.). As a rule, the foreign body comes out after 2-3 days. Parents should closely monitor the child's stool to ensure that the foreign body is passed.

It is rare, but it occurs that children swallow dangerous sharp and metal objects (pins, needles, metal studs, razor blades, jewelry or fish bones), which can severely injure the wall of the esophagus and penetrate through it. In this case, there is a high probability of damage to vital organs that are anatomically closely located with the esophagus (aorta and large vessels, heart, bronchus) and the occurrence of dangerous complications, which can subsequently greatly reduce the quality of life, make the child disabled or lead to death (but such situations extremely rare).

How to detect a foreign body and what to do?

The clinical picture depends on the type, size, shape and location of the foreign body. More commonly, symptoms include dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), odynophagia (pain when swallowing), and chest pain. With a large foreign body causing complete obstruction (opposition to the normal functioning) of the esophagus, profuse salivation and regurgitation are observed.

Therefore, if parents see:

That the child has swallowed or is suspected of swallowing a foreign body;

That the child, despite being completely well, suddenly coughs, vomits, or refuses to eat or loses consciousness;

That nothing bothers the child, but the pin that he was holding in his hands a minute ago disappeared without a trace - and it could not be found;

then it is necessary to urgently deliver the child to a hospital, which has a surgical, X-ray, endoscopic, ultrasound department, available around the clock, and where experienced doctors work and have the necessary arsenal of means to provide medical care.

In such a situation, in no case should you engage in independent treatment - rinse the stomach, feed, or give any medications. First of all, the issue of prompt delivery of the child to the hospital must be resolved.

It is very dangerous if a battery is a foreign body. In the stomach containing hydrochloric acid, the battery, oxidizing and releasing aggressive substances, can cause damage due to a chemical burn. Ulcers can form in this area and cause life-threatening complications. Small disk batteries are especially dangerous in the esophagus, where they can quickly cause coliquation necrosis (chemical burns from alkali exposure of the esophageal lining) and perforation (rupture of the esophagus). Therefore, the sooner the child is taken to the hospital, the better.

Methods for removing a foreign body

After the child is taken to the hospital, the child should be examined in the emergency department by a pediatrician and a surgeon; if necessary, additional examinations are carried out: X-ray (but only metal foreign bodies, stones and some types of glass are visible on the X-ray, and plastic and wooden objects are not identified due to texture of the material), endoscopic or ultrasound. A diagnosis is made and the level of presence of the foreign body is determined, and at the same time the issue of the need for hospitalization and emergency intervention is decided.

In 99% of cases, a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract can be removed endoscopically, using a special device. This is possible if the foreign body is located at least below the duodenum or in the large intestine. Premedication (preliminary drug preparation of the patient for the administration of anesthesia) and general anesthesia are required. In this case, the child will not only not remember anything and will endure the procedure painlessly, but will also allow the doctor to calmly do his job. Removal of a foreign body occurs using gastroscopy and examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum using a flexible fiber-optic device or colonoscopy and examination of the rectum with a fiber colonoscope. Moreover, an endoscopic loop, basket or clamp is passed through the endoscope to remove the foreign body.

After anesthesia, the child must be observed in the hospital for at least 24 hours. In some cases, there is no need for pain relief; this issue is resolved by the surgeon and endoscopist. Sometimes a foreign body can be pushed through with a device, and then taking a laxative will help it leave the body naturally faster. According to statistics, it is possible to remove foreign bodies endoscopically in 97.6-99% of cases. If it was not possible to endoscopically remove the foreign body, laparoscopic (through a small, usually 0.5-1.5 cm, incision) or abdominal surgical intervention is performed, which is always more traumatic for the body and is associated with a much larger number of possible complications.

Prevention of foreign body entry into the child’s body

To reduce the risk of a foreign body entering a child’s body, you should not leave him alone unattended, or expose objects that are potentially dangerous to the child and thereby provoke the child. It is necessary to put household chemicals, tools, and various small items out of reach of the baby.

Also You should be extremely careful when choosing toys for your child. They must be chosen taking into account the age of the baby - for the little ones, fairly simple, large, bright toys, without small or easily broken parts, are suitable. You need to buy them only in children's stores or specialized children's departments. The tag must indicate the manufacturer, material and age of the child for which it is designed. Quality is guaranteed in genuine toys, because the most important thing is the safety of your baby. Fake toys are cheaper, but they are often of poor quality and will quickly break before your baby has time to please. In any case, your approach to this issue should be reasonable.

Krasavin A.V., chief physician of the Markushka children's clinic,
pediatric gastroenergologist, endoscopist.