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Updated: May 20, 2026
Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Nasopharyngeal foreign body in an young child
Jagdish Kumar Athmaram Gupta Sunkum1
1Mamata Medical College & Hospital, Opp: Rotary nagar, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh 507002 India.
Insights
Foreign body (FB) inhalation or ingestion is uncommon in the nasopharynx. A rare case involved a child with initial respiratory distress symptoms, later found to have a metal nut lodged in the nasopharynx.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Foreign body (FB) ingestion and inhalation are common pediatric emergencies.
- However, FB presence in the nasopharynx is rare, often presenting with atypical symptoms.
Observation:
- A child presented with respiratory distress, initially suspected as foreign body in the bronchus.
- Initial chest examination and X-rays were normal, and the child was asymptomatic.
- Subsequent development of rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, and snoring prompted a nasopharyngeal X-ray.
Findings:
- A large metal nut was discovered lodged in the nasopharynx.
- The FB's location and the patient's initial misleading history contributed to diagnostic challenges.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering nasopharyngeal foreign bodies even with atypical presentations.
- Emphasizes the role of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare FB locations.
- Underscores the need for thorough evaluation in pediatric respiratory distress cases.
Abstract:
A number of articles on foreign body (FB) ingestion and inhalation have been reported in the literature. Of these, reports of foreign bodies lodging in nasopharynx after inhalation/ingestion are rare. A case of FB inhalation/ingestion presented with history of respiratory distress was admitted for suspected FB bronchus and kept for observation. On examination the child was not distressed and chest examination and X-ray were normal. After 2 days, however, X-ray nasopharynx was taken for rhinorrhoea, nose block and snoring since admission. A large metal nut was found in the roof of the nasopharynx. This case is reported for its rarity, unusual presentation and misleading history.
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