Pediatrics Common Questions, Quick Answers

Foreign Body

Donna D'Alessandro, M.D.
Lindsay Huth, B.A.
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed
Creation Date: January 2002
Last Revision Date: April 2002

• What is a foreign body?
• Who usually has problems with foreign bodies?
• What are some objects that commonly become foreign bodies?
• What are signs that my child has swallowed something?
• What should I do?
• What are signs that my child has something stuck in his airway?
• What should I do?
• What are signs that my child has something stuck in his nose?
• What should I do?
• What if my child has something stuck in his ear?
• What can I do to keep my child safe from these problems?
• When should I call the doctor?

What is a foreign body?

• A foreign body is when an object is swallowed or stuck in a body opening, such as the ear, nose, or throat.

Who usually has problems with foreign bodies?

• A person of any age could have a foreign body, but it is most common in children ages 1-3.

What are some objects that commonly become foreign bodies?

• Small, interesting, shiny objects are likely to attract children's attention and could easily become foreign bodies.
• Young children commonly swallow food (meats, nuts, seeds, candy, fruit pits, and popcorn). Coins, marbles, safety pins, buttons, crayon pieces, erasers, paper wads, rocks, and beads are also risks.
• Small batteries are easily swallowed. They are dangerous because they are toxic.
• Toothpicks and razors are also dangerous.
• Small toy parts, such as screws, eyes, noses, and other pieces that could be taken apart are dangerous.

What are signs that my child has swallowed something?

• If your child has swallowed something, he may feel discomfort.
• He may have trouble breathing, speaking, swallowing, or crying.
• He may spit up, drool, vomit, or have stomach or chest pain.

What should I do?

• If your child has swallowed a battery, call the doctor immediately.
• If you know your child has swallowed something, look for signs of discomfort.
• If your child has trouble breathing, speaking, swallowing, or crying, call the doctor immediately. Call the doctor if he is spitting up, drooling, vomiting, or if he has chest or stomach pain.
• Take your child to the emergency room if the discomfort is severe.
• If your child has discomfort after swallowing a coin, take him to the emergency room. If he seems to feel fine, watch him closely for a few days and check stools for the coin.
• Usually when children swallow things (even sharp objects such as pins and glass), they pass through the body without any harm.
• Check your child's stools to see if the object has passed.
• Do not give him laxatives or extra fiber.
• If the object hasn't passed in a few days, call the doctor.

What are signs that my child has something stuck in his airway?

• If your child has tried to swallow something and it gets stuck in his throat, it could be blocking his airway.
• If your child's airway is partially blocked, he will probably cough, wheeze, or have trouble breathing. Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
• If this passes, watch the child closely for a few days and look for signs of a respiratory infection (such as fever or occasional cough).
• You may not know that your child has something stuck in his airway until an infection or inflammation develops later.
• If the airway if completely blocked, your child will not be able to breathe.

What should I do?

• Call the doctor if you think your child has something stuck in his throat.
• Call 911 if the object is causing breathing difficulty. If the child is awake and breathing, watch closely until help arrives. If the child is unconscious or cannot breathe, try rescue breathing, the Heimlich maneuver, back blows, or abdominal thrusts if you know how to do them.
• Do not force a food, drink, or your finger down your child's throat.
• Do not blindly sweep a finger in the mouth as you can push the object back down.

What are signs that my child has something stuck in his nose?

• Bad smelling mucus or bloody mucus.
• Difficulty breathing through the nose.
• Irritation in the nose.
• Child feels something in his nose.

What should I do?

• An object stuck in the nose can cause irritation, infection, or difficulty breathing.
• Do not try to remove an object that you can't see or easily grab. If you try this, it is likely you will push the object further into the nose.
• Do not use tweezers, cotton swabs, or other small tools to remove the object.
• Have the child breathe through his mouth, not nose. Have him breathe gently.
• If you can do it easily and safely, find out which nostril the object is stuck in. Plug the other nostril and have the child gently blow through the nostril where the object is stuck. Do not let child blow too hard or too many times.
• Call the doctor if this doesn't work or if the object is not easy to remove.
• Call the doctor if you think your child's nose could be irritated or infected after the object is removed.

What if my child has something stuck in his ear?

• Objects stuck in the ear can cause an ear infection.
• A doctor should remove any object stuck in your child's ear. Most damage occurs when parents try to remove the object themselves.
• Do not use tweezers, cotton swabs, or other small tools to try to remove the object.
• Call the doctor.
• Insects and bugs can also get stuck in the ear.
• Sometimes, bugs can be washed out by gently splashing warm water in the ear.
• If this doesn't work, call the doctor.

What can I do to keep my child safe from these problems?

• Keep small, interesting, shiny objects out of children's reach.
• Do not give children peanuts, popcorn, or gum until age 7 as they are choking hazards until that time.
• Cut food into small pieces that children can easily chew. Cut meat and whole grapes into small pieces, cut hot dogs into small sticks (not round pieces). Do not give gum or hard candy until about age 7 as they are choking hazards until that time.
• Store batteries and throw out old ones in a place where children can't reach them.
• Read labels on toys and follow the guidelines for how old a child should be to play with the toy. Children under 3 years old should not play with toys that have small parts.
• Inspect your child's toys often. Look for loose and broken pieces. Throw the toys out if they are damaged.
• Teach children not to put things into body openings.
• Do not force children to eat if they are crying or breathing fast.
• To prevent choking, do not let children play, laugh, or talk while they are eating.

When should I call the doctor?

• If your child has something stuck in his airway (is having difficulty breathing) call 911.
• If your child is in discomfort, call the doctor or take him to the emergency room.
• Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child's condition.

Quick Answers

• A foreign body is when an object is swallowed or stuck in a body opening, such as the ear, nose, or throat.
• Foreign bodies are most common in children ages 1-3.
• Small, interesting, shiny objects are likely to attract children's attention and could easily become foreign bodies.
• If you know your child has swallowed something, look for signs of discomfort. If there is discomfort, call the doctor or emergency room.
• If your child's airway is partially blocked, he will probably cough, wheeze, or have trouble breathing. If it is completely blocked, he will not be able to breathe.
• Call 911 if the object is causing breathing difficulty.
• If your child has something stuck in his nose, he may have bad smelling mucus or bloody mucus or difficulty breathing through his nose.
• Do not try to remove an object that you can't see or easily grab. Call the doctor.
• A doctor should remove any object stuck in your child's ear.
• To prevent foreign bodies, keep small, interesting, shiny objects out of children's reach.
• If your child is in discomfort, call the doctor or take him to the emergency room.

References

• Kacker, A MD. Foreign Body in the Nose. MedlinePlus. 2001 August 21 (cited 2001 December 11). Available from: URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000037.htm
• MayoClinic. When Kids Swallow things: Guidelines for Parents. 2001 April 19 (cited 2001 December 11). Available from: URL: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=HQ01661&printpage=true
• MedicineNet. First Aid: Objects or Insects in Ear. 1996-2001 (cited 2001 December 11). Available from: URL: http://www.medicineNet.com/Script/Main/Art.asp?li=MNI&d=111&cu=16583&w=0&ArticleKey=6718
• MedlinePlus. Foreign Object Aspiration or Ingestion. 2000 (cited 2001 December 11). Available from: URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article

See related Patient Topics Choking, First Aid/Emergencies, Injuries and Wounds, Lungs and Breathing, Preventing Disease and Staying Healthy, Safety, Symptoms and Manifestations or Wellness and Lifestyle.

See related Provider Topics First Aid/Emergencies, Injuries and Wounds, Lungs and Breathing, Preventing Disease and Staying Healthy, Safety, Symptoms and Manifestations or Wellness and Lifestyle.

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