These injuries can occur at any age, but are most common in children ages 1 to 3.
Causes:
Certain foods (nuts, seeds, popcorn) and small objects (buttons, beads) are easily inhaled by young children. Such objects may cause either partial or total airway blockage.
Coins, small toys, marbles, pins, screws, rocks, and anything else small enough for infants or toddlers to put in their mouths can be swallowed. If the object passes through the esophagus and into the stomach without getting stuck, it will probably pass through the entire digestive tract.
Symptoms:
When tiny foreign objects are breathed in (inhaled), they usually cause coughing, wheezing, breathing distress, or a total lack of air. However, in some cases, only minor symptoms are initially present, and the object may be forgotten until later symptoms (inflammation, infection) develop.
Review Date: 7/18/2007
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Injury/Emergency
