Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Foreign Body Accidents in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Saramira Cardoso Bohadana1, Rayza Gaspar Dos Santos1, Mirella Kalyne Cavalcante Magalhães1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Infantil Sabará, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Insights
Foreign body accidents (FBAs) are common in children, particularly those under 5. Most cases involve the digestive tract, nose, or ears, with respiratory system FBAs being the most severe.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Foreign body accidents (FBAs) are a significant cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding the clinical details and object characteristics is crucial for risk profiling and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the incidence of foreign body accidents in the aerodigestive system within otorhinolaryngology.
- To analyze anatomical locations, patient demographics, and outcomes of pediatric FBAs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 668 medical records from a tertiary pediatric hospital in São Paulo, Brazil (2014-2017).
- Data collection focused on anatomical location, age, gender, complications, and treatment settings.
Main Results:
- Foreign bodies (FBs) were most common in the digestive system (238), nasal cavities (206), and ears (182).
- The primary age group affected was under 5 years, with no significant gender difference.
- Digestive system FBs caused the most frequent complications, while respiratory system FBs were the most severe.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary emergency room teams are essential for managing pediatric FBAs.
- Early diagnosis, prompt FB removal, and follow-up are critical.
- Prevention campaigns and a national database for pediatric FBAs are necessary to improve safety.
Abstract:
Introduction Foreign body accidents (FBAs) are frequent in children and can be severe, being a common cause of morbidity and mortality and a public health problem. As these accidents are multifactorial, their cause can only be determined by analyzing the clinical details and characteristics of the object. Knowing the associated mechanisms and factors is essential to determine a risk profile and have a preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostic purpose. Objective The present study aimed to describe the incidence of FBAs in otorhinolaryngology according to their anatomical location, focusing on the aerodigestive system. Methods This is a retrospective study performed by reviewing the medical records of 668 cases seen in the emergency department of a tertiary pediatric hospital in São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2014 and 2017. Results Foreign bodies (FBs) were found in the digestive system (238/668), in the nasal cavities (206/668), in the ears (182/668), in the oropharynx (34/668), and in the respiratory system (8/668). A total of 91.77% of the patients were treated in the emergency room. The main age group affected was < 5 years old, with no difference between genders. The most frequent complications affected the digestive system and the most serious occurred in cases involving the respiratory system. Conclusion Multidisciplinary teams should be ready in the emergency room to provide adequate care in FBAs. Early diagnosis, FB removal in the emergency room or the surgical center and follow-up are essential. Developing prevention campaigns including a risk profile for certain products and/or materials, helping to ensure safety for consumers, is necessary. For this, a national database with compulsory notification containing relevant information on FBAs in the pediatric population should be created.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus....
01:26Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
01:26Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...