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Risk factors for otolaryngological foreign bodies in Eastern Poland
Beata Rybojad1, Artur Niedzielski, Grazyna Niedzielska
1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Children's University Hospital of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. brybojad@wp.pl
Insights
Male children aged 1-3 years from urban families with siblings and parents having elementary education are at higher risk for foreign body insertion. Caregiver education on safety can reduce these incidents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Otolaryngology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Foreign body (FB) ingestion and aspiration are common pediatric emergencies.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for prevention and targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine sociodemographic factors and risk factors for foreign bodies in Polish children.
- To analyze the characteristics of foreign body insertions in various anatomical locations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 1011 pediatric patients with suspected foreign bodies (1998-2008).
- Statistical analysis of data including residence, siblings, parental education, seasonality, psychomotor development, age, and sex.
Main Results:
- 849 confirmed cases of foreign bodies, most commonly in the external auditory canals, nasopharynx, or esophagus.
- Higher incidence in males (55%), children from urban areas (596), and during summer/autumn (60%).
- Food was the most common foreign body in children under 3; 1.6% had delayed psychomotor development.
Conclusions:
- Risk factors include being male, 1-3 years old, urban background, having siblings, and parents with elementary education.
- Caregiver education on nutrition and safety is recommended to decrease foreign body insertion risks.
Objective:
To identify the sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with suspected foreign bodies in the ear, nose, throat, airway, and esophagus among Polish children.
Study Design:
Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care medical center.
Subjects And Methods:
A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients hospitalized for a suspected foreign body (FB) between 1998 and 2008 was conducted. Data regarding place of residence, presence of siblings, parents' educational status, seasonality, psychomotor development, age, and sex were collected and statistically analyzed.
Results:
Of the 1011 patients with suspected foreign body insertion, 849 (84%) had a positive diagnosis. Of the confirmed foreign bodies, 96 were found in the tracheobronchial tree, 142 were found in the esophagus, and 611 were located in the external auditory canals, nasopharyngeal passage, tonsils, auricles, or lips. Sociodemographically, 596 of the children came from urban areas, with a preponderance of males (55%). Objects were removed more frequently in summer and autumn (60%). Children with siblings (53%) predominated. The majority of patients (52%) had parents with an elementary education. Food was the most frequent foreign body in children under 3 years of age. Patients with delayed psychomotor development constituted 1.6% of the analyzed population.
Conclusions:
Being male, 1 to 3 years of age, belonging to an urban family with siblings, and having parents with an elementary education increased the risk of foreign body insertion. Training caregivers about proper nutrition and safety rules when playing with children can reduce the risk of accidents related to foreign body insertion.
