Button battery ingestion in children is potentially fatal: assessing and raising awareness of a decades old problem

Button batteries are a common household item that are, unfortunately, attractive to young children. If ingested, they are corrosive and potentially fatal. Button battery ingestion is frequently unwitnessed, delaying the diagnosis. In the USA, approximately 6,000 accidental ingestions occur annually (2.2 deaths per year over a decade on average). Community awareness of this danger appears to be low.

We conducted a 22-question online questionnaire-based study to assess and raise awareness of this exceptional childhood risk.

A total of 561 survey responses were analysed; 77 per cent were female, and 60 per cent were aged 30-50. Despite 87 per cent using button batteries, 65 per cent did not consider their safety, and 68 per cent found existing packaging warnings inadequate. Notably, 80 per cent recognised the potential for fatality, but 88 per cent were unaware that a spoonful of honey could delay this corrosive process.

Challenges persist regarding the design and marketing of button batteries and public awareness of their ingestion. Action is required to prevent further tragedies.