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Acute Diarrhea Acute Pancreatitis Amoebiasis Anal Fissure Antibiotic associated Diarrhoea Carcinoma Stomach Cholecystitis Chronic Pancreatitis Cirrhosis Colon Cancer Colonic Polyps Colonoscopy Colostomy Common Bile Duct Stones Crohns Disease Diverticulosis Duodenal Ulcer ERCP Esophageal Cancer Esophageal Dilation with Bougies Flatulence Gallstones and Gallbladder - Disease Gastric Ulcer Gastrostomy Care Heartburn & Gastroesophageal - Reflux Disease Hemorrhoid Banding Hepatitis Hiatus Hernia Intussusception Irritable Bowel Syndrome Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Large Bowel Obstruction Liver Biopsy Liver Cancer OGD Pancreatic Cancer Peptic Ulcers Piles Reflux Esophagitis Small Bowel Obstruction Swallowed Foreign Body Ulcer Complications Ulcerative Colitis |
DescriptionMost 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 Care1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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:
Call Your Child's Physician If You've Already Talked with Your Physician AND Any of the Following Occur:
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