[Dangers of batteries]

During the years 1982-1987 the Dutch Poison Control Centre was consulted 333 times about batteries. From these inquiries 281 concerned ingestion of a battery. In 52 cases there had been contact with (the contents of) a battery either with the skin, or the eyes or mucus membranes. The obtained data are compared with data in literature. In literature it is found that after ingestion in about 90% of the cases no symptoms occur. Problems develop when the battery is lodging somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Perforation is the most dangerous complication. Sometimes a battery can be found in the nose or in the external auditory canal of a child. As a result of a prolonged stay on one place, severe tissue damage may develop. When a battery is ruptured an intoxication due to metals might be expected we never observed it sofar. For locating the exact position of a battery in the gastrointestinal tract an X-ray photograph can be made. The therapies installed differ from waiting for the battery to come out with the stools to operative intervention. We suggest that when a patient has symptoms, medical intervention is required immediately; in the other case one can wait. When a battery is found in the nose or the ear immediate removal is required.