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Long-Term Complications of Button Batteries in the Nose
Satvinder Singh Bakshi1, V Nirmal Coumare1, Madhu Priya1
1Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, India.
Insights
Button batteries inserted into a child's nose pose a significant risk, often leading to septal perforation and other nasal complications. Prompt removal is crucial to prevent long-term consequences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Foreign Body Ingestion
Background:
- Nasal foreign bodies are common pediatric emergencies.
- Button batteries are particularly dangerous foreign bodies due to their potential for rapid tissue damage.
Background:
One of the common emergencies presenting to the emergency department is a child who has inserted a foreign body into their nose. Of the various things that children insert accidently, the most dangerous are button batteries.
Case Report:
We followed up 11 cases of children with history of button battery insertion in the nose for 1 year. We found that all of the patients had developed a septal perforation; other sequelae included nasal adhesions and saddle nose. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Button batteries in the nose are dangerous and can lead to early complications with long-term consequences for the patients. Early diagnosis is required so that they can be removed as soon as possible to prevent the development of complications and long-term sequelae.
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