Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
[Esophageal foreign body revealed by respiratory distress]
N Chouaib1, M Rafai1, L Belyamani1
1Service d'accueil des urgences médicochirurgicales, pôle des urgences médicochirurgicales, Hôpital militaire d'instruction Mohammed-V (HMIMV), Rabat, Maroc.
Insights
Accidental ingestion of foreign bodies in children can cause respiratory symptoms. This case highlights how an unrecognized esophageal foreign body can manifest as severe respiratory distress.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Foreign body ingestion is a common pediatric emergency, often accidental.
- Esophageal foreign bodies can present with various symptoms, including respiratory issues.
Observation:
- A child presented with severe respiratory distress.
- The cause of the respiratory distress was initially unrecognized.
Findings:
- The underlying cause was an esophageal foreign body.
- Respiratory distress was the primary presenting symptom, masking the esophageal issue.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering esophageal foreign bodies in children with unexplained respiratory distress.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing foreign body ingestions and preventing complications.
Abstract:
Ingestion of a foreign body is usually accidental in children. Respiratory symptoms, often favored by the persistence of the foreign body in the esophagus, can be revealing, but rarely respiratory distress as a method telling. We report a case of unrecognized esophageal foreign body revealed by respiratory distress.
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