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Pediatric coin ingestion and aspiration
Xiao Chen1, Scott Milkovich, Daniel Stool
1RAM, Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA. xiao.chen@ram.com
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|September 15, 2005
Summary
Young children under 4 are most at risk for coin ingestion and aspiration injuries, with pennies causing the most incidents. Smaller coins pose a higher hospitalization risk, emphasizing the need for increased supervision.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric emergency medicine
- Public health surveillance
- Toxicology
Background:
- Coin ingestion and aspiration are significant pediatric emergencies.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for prevention and timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between coin characteristics, victim age, and coin circulation volume.
- To analyze the frequency and outcomes of pediatric coin ingestion and aspiration injuries.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for coin-related injuries in children aged 14 and younger.
- Employed logistic regression to control for confounding variables.
Main Results:
- An estimated 252,338 non-fatal and 20 fatal coin-related injuries occurred between 1994-2003.
- Children aged 4 and under faced the highest risk; smaller coins like pennies were more frequent, while larger coins were associated with older children.
- Hospitalization rates decreased with coin diameter and weight; aspiration incidents led to higher hospitalization rates than ingestion.
Conclusions:
- Highlights the vulnerability of young children to coin-related injuries.
- Emphasizes the need for heightened public and healthcare provider awareness regarding coin ingestion and aspiration risks.
- Recommends increased supervision for young children to mitigate these preventable injuries.