Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Foreign body ingestion in children
Selim Dereci1, Tuğba Koca1, Filiz Serdaroğlu2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric foreign body ingestion is common, especially in children under five. Coins and small objects are frequently ingested, often lodging in the upper esophagus, requiring endoscopic removal to prevent complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
- Foreign Body Ingestion
Background:
- Ingestion of foreign bodies is a significant pediatric health concern.
- Oral foreign bodies pose risks of gastrointestinal tract complications.
- Timely evaluation and management are crucial for pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pediatric patients presenting with foreign body ingestion.
- To analyze the types, locations, and management of ingested foreign bodies.
- To identify common symptoms and demographic factors in pediatric ingestion cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of hospital records for pediatric foreign body ingestion cases.
- Data collected included patient demographics, presenting complaints, foreign body type, and location.
- Treatment approaches, including endoscopic procedures, were examined.
Main Results:
- 64 pediatric patients were included, with a mean age of 5.7 years; 59% were under five.
- Commonly ingested items were coins, sewing pins, safety pins, and hairclips.
- The upper esophagus was the most frequent location; endoscopic intervention was performed in 55 patients.
Conclusions:
- Early detection and treatment of upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies are vital.
- Coins were the most common foreign bodies, predominantly found in the upper esophagus.
- Flexible endoscopic methods are frequently employed for successful treatment in young children.
Aim:
Foreign bodies ingested by the oral route enter into the gastrointestinal tract and are considered a significant health problem in the childhood. In this study, we evaluated the pediatric patients who presented to our hospital with the complaint of ingestion of foreign body.
Material And Methods:
The hospital records of all children who presented to our clinic because of ingestion of foreign body between January 2008 and January 2015 were examined retrospectively. The complaints at admission, the types of foreign bodies ingested, the localization of the foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract and the approaches and treatment methods used were examined.
Results:
Thirty-six (56%) of 64 patients included in the study were male and 28 (44%) were female and the mean age was 5.7±4.6 years (10 months-17 years). Thirty eight (59%) of 64 children who were included in the assessment were below the age of five years. The most common complaint at presentation was parental recognition of the ingested object and dysphagia. The most commonly ingested foreign bodies included coins, sewing pins, safety pins and hairclips. Nail clipper detected in the stomach, sewing pin which penetrated through the duodenal wall and stuck to hepatic parenchyma were the first pediatric cases in the literature. Upper esophagus was the most common location for foreign bodies. Endoscopic examinations were performed in 55 of 64 children.
Conclusions:
Early detection and treatment of ingested foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal system is important in terms of preventing possible complications. In our study, the most frequent foreign bodies detected in the upper digestive tract were coins and they were most frequently detected in the upper esophagus. Most of our patients were below the age of five years. Flexible endoscopic method was used commonly for treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus....
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:24Upper GI Series: Barium Swallow
Purpose and Procedure
Patients undergoing this procedure ingest a liquid containing barium sulfate with a chalky...
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
00:41Phagocytosis
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells,...