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[A foreign body discovered incidentally during a tonsillectomy]
Mohamed Saydi Ag Mohamed Elmehdi Elansari1, Boubacary Guindo2, Mamadou Diallo1
1Centre de santé de référence de la commune VI, Bamako, Mali.
Insights
A child
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Foreign Body Ingestion
Background:
- Chronic odynophagia (sore throat) in children can be challenging to diagnose.
- Persistent throat pain unresponsive to standard treatments warrants thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of chronic odynophagia caused by a retained fishbone.
- To highlight the importance of considering unusual etiologies in refractory throat pain.
Main Methods:
- A 7-year-old child with a year of chronic, treatment-resistant odynophagia was evaluated.
- Physical examination revealed tonsillar hypertrophy; tonsillectomy was indicated and performed.
- Surgical removal of the tonsils led to the incidental discovery of a fishbone.
Main Results:
- A large fishbone was found lodged in the child's right tonsil.
- Post-tonsillectomy recovery was uneventful.
- The child experienced complete resolution of odynophagia at 12-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Retained fishbones can present as chronic, severe odynophagia in children.
- Tonsillectomy, while indicated for other reasons, can reveal occult foreign bodies.
- Prompt diagnosis and removal of foreign bodies are crucial for symptom resolution.
Abstract:
We report an unusual observation of a child aged 07, who consulted us for a chronic odynophagia rebellious to multiple treatments. It dates back to one year followed by pediatrics under antibiotic therapy and anti-inflammatory in whom the examination found hypertrophy noninflammatory obstructive tonsillar. The last episode would go back a month. The rest of the general exam was unremarkable. An indication for tonsillectomy was made and was performed. We fortuitously find a large fishbone skewered in his right tonsil. The postoperative consequences were simple. With a follow-up of 12 months, the patient is doing well.
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