Paediatric inhaled airway foreign bodies: An update

Given the often subacute nature of airway foreign bodies (AFB), which may have no or limited symptoms, patients with AFB sometimes present to general practitioners (GPs). It is important that AFB are promptly recognised and referred for appropriate tertiary management.

The aim of this paper is to outline how AFB may present in the general practice setting and review the appropriate clinical work-up and tertiary referral. It also outlines the role of GPs in education of parents and caregivers of young children.

Paediatric patients with AFB can be asymptomatic or have vague pulmonary or upper airway symptoms after a choking episode when they present to the GP. It is important that historical red flags that mandate immediate specialist review are recognised, even in the otherwise asymptomatic child. Delays in diagnosis can result in severe and occasionally lifelong pulmonary complications with significant morbidity. GPs develop important long-term relationships with parents and caregivers of young children, which makes them uniquely positioned to provide potentially life-saving education regarding both the prevention and acute management of AFB.