Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2025
Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Foreign body ingestion in children: Clinical features and complications
Ines Trabelsi1, Soumaya Kbaier1, Yasmine Daoued1
1Department of Pediatric Medicine B, Béchir Hamza Children's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis el Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.
Introduction:
The ingestion of foreign body (FB) is a common problem in paediatrics. Children are curious by nature and tend to explore environment by inserting objects into their mouths.
Aim:
To update our epidemiological and clinical data and adapt clinical management in order to limit morbidity associated with this fairly frequent accidental pathology.
Methods:
Retrospective descriptive study including children aged less than 15 years, hospitalized in the Children's Medicine Department B of the Tunis Children's Hospital from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021 having ingested a FB.
Results:
Forty-four children were included and admitted for foreign body ingestion, with a sex ratio of 1.4. The mean age was 4 years 4 months. Most children were asymptomatic on admission. In the others, digestive forms predominated (n=19). The average consultation time was 10.8 hours. The FBs were mainly foams and corrosives (75%), represented by batteries in 52% of cases and coins in 22% of cases. Thoraco-abdominal X-rays carried out on all patients revealed a radio-opaque foreign body in 95% of cases. The most frequent location was the colon (n=17). Endoscopy was chosen in 14 patients and was extractive in five. The mean time from admission to endoscopic extraction was 10.6 hours. The mean time to expulsion by natural route was 49 hours. Complications were noted in two patients: ulceration of the oesophageal mucosa and dyspnoea following rigid endoscopy in one case.
Conclusion:
This study has shown that the ingestion of foreign body in children is a frequent and potentially serious accident.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus....
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:22Appendicitis-I: Introduction
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:26Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...