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What is it about ?
A foreign body can be swallowed by a child and end up in the esophagus, stomach or intestine. In the food there may also be a foreign body, for example, a fish bone or a chicken bone. Children often explore all kinds of objects with their mouths, and they often swallow something. They are often small objects, which go unnoticed. However, larger objects, like coins, small batteries, or small toys, can get stuck at any point in the digestive tract. There they may or may not cause symptoms, either because of their size or because they contain corrosive substances or toxic.
How to recognize it?
If the object is small in size and doesn’t have sharp edges, you usually don’t notice anything at all. It passes easily through the stomach and intestines. It comes out with the stool, and it is by chance that we can notice it.
But larger objects can cause symptoms. A round object, such as a button cell battery, a coin or a marble, usually enters the stomach and is passed with the stool. But sometimes an object gets stuck in the esophagus, temporarily or not. Gagging and sometimes pain are the main symptoms. They disappear when the object enters the stomach.
How is the diagnosis made?
If there are no symptoms, the doctor will prefer to wait and order a stool inspection. If the object has not come out after 48 hours, an x-ray will be taken to find out exactly where it is.
Objects larger than 2 cm can get stuck to the stomach wall. In this case, the doctor will therefore always order an X-ray.
What can you do ?
If there are no symptoms, you should do nothing. Normally, the foreign body comes out with the stool within 48 hours. Otherwise, it is better to consult the doctor.
If the child is gagging, the object may not get into the stomach but get stuck in the esophagus. It can be life threatening. Therefore, always remove the foreign body with an endoscope (a tube for examining the esophagus). Do not try to make the child vomit, but take him to the emergency room.
If he has swallowed a battery, corrosive substances may be released and damage the mucous membrane. Until the battery is pulled out, pay attention for symptoms such as stomach aches or a burning sensation. A battery containing mercury (these batteries are prohibited in the European Union) should be removed immediately from the digestive tract.
What can the doctor do?
Sometimes the doctor can prescribe a drug that promotes digestive transit and therefore the evacuation of the foreign body.
Objects that remain in the esophagus or stomach are always removed using an endoscope. If the x-ray shows that the object is advancing into the intestine towards the exit, a new x-ray is taken after a few days, and repeated regularly for up to two weeks after ingestion. If finally the object does not come out spontaneously with the stool, it is removed by endoscopy. A pile must be removed endoscopically already after 48 hours in the stomach.
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