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Published on: September 11, 2018
Upper gastrointestinal bleed in a toddler - an unusual encounter revealing foreign body ingestion
Rahim Ahmed1, Humaira Jurair1, Kamran Sadiq1
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Insights
Foreign body ingestion in children can cause severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This case highlights the importance of considering foreign body ingestion in the differential diagnosis of acute bleeding in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a frequent occurrence in pediatric patients.
- Management strategies for FB ingestion are diverse, depending on the object, location, and clinical signs.
Observation:
- A four-year-old child presented with sudden, severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Initial laboratory workup yielded inconclusive results for the bleeding source.
- Endoscopic examination identified a sharp foreign body lodged in the upper GI tract.
Findings:
- The sharp foreign body was successfully removed via endoscopy.
- The patient experienced an uneventful post-operative recovery and hospital course.
Implications:
- Foreign body ingestion can lead to life-threatening upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in children.
- Healthcare providers should include FB ingestion in the differential diagnosis for acute, unexplained upper GI bleeding in pediatric cases.
Abstract:
Foreign body (FB) ingestion is common in children; however, management varies based on the object ingested, its location and clinical presentation. Urgent intervention is needed if any warning signs are present. We describe the case of a four-year-old child who presented with acute onset of life-threatening upper gastro intestinal bleeding. He had no other significant previous or present complaint, and results of lab workup were inconclusive. Endoscopic evaluation revealed a sharp and hard object which was removed. Post-operative period, duration of hospitalization and subsequent follow up were uneventful. Through this report, we wish to draw the attention of healthcare providers to the dangerous effects of FB ingestion and also emphasise that FB ingestion should be considered in differential diagnosis when unexplained upper GI haemorrhage symptoms occur acutely.
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