Foreign body aspiration in a child detected through emergency department radiology reporting: a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Radiology
• Respiratory Health

Background:

• Foreign-body aspiration is a significant cause of mortality in children under three years old.
• Despite child-safety efforts, aspiration events continue to pose a threat to young children's lives.

Observation:

• This case report details a typical scenario of peanut aspiration in a toddler.
• The initial diagnosis was delayed, with confirmation only occurring the following day upon radiology review.

Findings:

• Delayed diagnosis of foreign-body aspiration can increase patient morbidity.
• Radiology plays a crucial role in timely and accurate diagnosis of aspiration events.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the critical importance of clinical history in diagnosing pediatric foreign-body aspiration.
• Highlights the potential for emergency radiology reporting to significantly reduce morbidity associated with delayed diagnosis.