Your child has been treated for Ingested Foreign Bodies. They have been thoroughly examined and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following will aid their recovery.
Care Instructions for Ingested Foreign Bodies
Children commonly swallow small objects such as coins, batteries, beads and small toys.
When an object is swallowed it passes through their digestive tract, which is made up of the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach, and small and large intestines.
In most children, these objects will pass freely through the digestive tract and come out in their faeces (poo) without causing any symptoms or problems.
On rare occasions the object may become stuck as it passes through the digestive tract. This is most likely to happen where the oesophagus (food pipe) meets the stomach as there is a slight narrowing here called a sphincter which normally acts to stop food and fluid from the stomach going back up the oesophagus. Most of the time once an object is in the stomach, it will then pass by itself.
Most children will not have any symptoms once they have swallowed an object. Do not force your child to vomit to try to remove the object.
If you think your child has swallowed any hazardous object such as:
- button batteries (for example from a watch or calculator)
- magnets
- sharp objects such as shards of metal or glass
- very large objects (larger than 6cm in length or 2cm in width)
You must urgently seek medical attention as these may need to removed by a doctor. Button batteries can cause burns to the lining of the digestive tract which can be life threatening.
What happens in the Emergency Department?
Many objects will not show up on X-Ray and most children will not require an X-ray to diagnose a swallowed object.
If your child has swallowed a non-metallic object that is not thought to be hazardous and they are well, without any symptoms, you can be assured that an X-ray is not needed and the object will likely pass by itself.
If your child has swallowed a metallic object then a doctor or nurse will use a metal detector (this does not use radiation) to see if they can locate the object.
- If the metal detector beeps below the bottom of their sternum (breastplate) then you can be assured that the object is in the stomach and will pass by itself.
- If the metal detector beeps above the sternum (breastplate) then your child will need an X-ray to help find out where the object is. If the object is seen in the neck area or chest they will be referred to a specialist to help remove it. This may be Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery or General Paediatric Surgery depending on where the object may be.
If your child is well, can eat and drink and the object is believed to be in the stomach or further along, then you can be reassured the object will likely pass by itself. The length of time the object will take to pass through their system is different for every child. You do not have to check their poo to see if they have passed it.
When to return to seek medical attention?
If they have
- Difficulty swallowing food or drink
- Drooling
- Pain in the neck or chest
This may be a sign that an object is stuck in their oesophagus and you should attend your local Emergency Department.
If they have
- Ongoing vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in their vomit or poo
- Fever
This may be a sign that an object is stuck in their stomach or intestines and you should attend your local Emergency Department.
If they have
- Difficulty or noisy breathing
- Sudden onset coughing
This may be a sign an object has been inhaled and is in their airways our lungs. You should call for an ambulance immediately if the child has difficulty breathing.
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