WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Between the ages of 6 months and 4 years, children tend
to put things in their mouths, and sometimes they swallow them.
Usually this poses no danger. Some children can cough up the
swallowed object. In any case, most objects pass easily through
a child's body without causing problems.
Signs/Symptoms
The child could have neck or
throat pain or problems swallowing. Vomiting, choking,
coughing, noisy breathing, and belly pain are other
signs.
Care
Treatment depends on the size and
location of the swallowed object. An object that gets stuck in
the esophagus (food tube) must be removed as soon as
possible. If the object reaches the stomach, it probably
will pass through the body by itself without causing problems.
This usually takes several days, but may take as long as 2 or 3
weeks.
X-rays of the chest and abdomen may be done to try to
find the object.
Risks
Children rarely die from
swallowing a foreign object. The risks of serious illness or
death are very small if you follow your doctor's
suggestions.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
Your doctor may ask you to look for the object in
your child's bowel movements. Putting them in a strainer
and running water over them may make the job
easier.
-
Do
NOT give your child any medicine such as a laxative
to make the object pass sooner.
-
There is no need to change your child's diet while
waiting for the object to pass.
-
To keep this from happening again:
-
Make your home a safe place. Children normally want
to climb, touch, taste, and handle everything they can
see.
-
Go through each room in your house and look for
anything that could be harmful. Keep items such as safety
pins, buttons, coins, and toothpicks well out of
reach.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
You do not see the swallowed object in your child's
stool within a few days.
Seek Care Immediately If...
-
Your child has vomiting, gagging, choking, drooling,
neck or throat pain, or can't swallow.
-
Your child is coughing, wheezing, or breathing
noisily.
-
Your child has belly pain, blood in the stool, or is
bleeding from the rectum.
-
Your child has a high
temperature.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following
procedures and equipment during your child's
stay.
-
Taking Vital Signs: These include temperature, blood
pressure, pulse (counting heartbeats), and respirations
(counting breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to the
heart and lungs. Blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff
around your child's arm.
-
Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your child's
hand or from the bend in his or her elbow. Tests will be
done on the blood.
-
Chest X-ray: This picture of the upper body may help
to locate the object.
-
IV: A tube put in your child's veins for giving
medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing
connected to it.
-
Oxygen: May be given using nasal prongs or a face
mask. Your child may be placed in a plastic tent to get
moist cool air.
-
Pulse Oximeter: Your child may be hooked up to a
pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on the ear,
finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures
the oxygen in your child's blood.
-
ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an
electrocardiograph (e-lec-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The
patches on your child's chest are hooked up to a TV-type
screen. This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your
child's heart will be watched for signs of injury or damage
stemming from the problem.
-
Bronchoscopy: The doctor may do a test called a
bronchoscopy (bron-KOS-ko-pee) if your child is having
breathing problems. Before this test is done, the doctor will
prescribe medicine to make the child
sleepy.
-
It may be possible to remove the object during this
test.
-
The child will stay in the hospital until awake and
breathing easily.
-
The test may cause a sore
throat.
-
Visiting: You may stay with your child to give
comfort and support. The child will feel safer with you
nearby.
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