When it comes to kids swallowing objects, parents often find themselves in a state of panic. The fear of choking or complications can be overwhelming.
If your child has swallowed a foreign object and it has safely traveled down the throat and into the food pipe or esophagus, doctors might advise you to let nature take its course and wait for your little one to pass it out naturally. But how long does it actually take for objects like coins, beads, button batteries, or magnets to transit through a child’s body?
Let’s explore the findings of a Singapore study that sheds light on this matter.
The High Risk for Toddlers
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Toddlers between the ages of one to two are at the highest risk of swallowing objects. At this stage of their development, they explore their environment by putting objects into their mouths. They are curious and trying to understand the world around them, often accidentally swallowing items in the process.
This age group constitutes the largest single age group seen at A&E departments in hospitals like the National University Hospital (NUH) and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, according to a study conducted by the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI) at NUH.
Commonly Swallowed Objects
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Swallowed objects can be categorized as low-risk or high-risk. Low-risk objects include coins, marbles, and beads, which are small, rounded, and least likely to cause complications when swallowed.
On the other hand, high-risk objects include small magnets, sharp objects, and button batteries. Button batteries, in particular, can cause injury to the stomach or intestines if their contents leak out.
The study found that coins accounted for 41% of the ingested objects, followed by beads and marbles at 27%. High-risk objects made up 21% of the cases, including multiple magnets, batteries, or sharp objects.
Importance of Tracking Transit Time
Understanding how long it takes for swallowed objects to pass out of the body is crucial for pediatricians to determine the necessary follow-up. The study revealed that the majority of children did not keep their outpatient appointments, leading doctors to believe that the objects had already passed out. To address this issue, researchers tracked the transit time of swallowed objects.
Findings of the study
According to Associate Professor Marion Aw, a senior consultant from the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nutrition, Hepatology, and Liver Transplantation at KTP-NUCMI, 50% of button batteries were passed out by Day 4, and 100% were passed out by Day 7. As for coins, 50% were passed out by Day 8, and 100% were passed out by Day 37.
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These findings allow parents to be informed about when to seek medical attention if an object has not been passed out within the expected timeframe.
Passage of Swallowed Objects
Swallowed objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract in a manner similar to the passage of food. However, since these objects are not digested, they have a higher chance of getting stuck in certain areas, known as “transition points.” These points include the connections between the esophagus and the stomach, the stomach and the small intestine, and the small intestine and the large intestine.
If an object progresses down the esophagus without getting lodged, it usually enters and exits the stomach and passes into the small intestine within four to six hours. However, it may take longer for the object to pass out of the stomach, especially for safer objects like coins, which can sometimes take several weeks before active intervention is required.
In Adults and Treatment Options
While the incidence of ingested foreign bodies is lower in adults, it can still happen. Common objects swallowed by adults include dentures, fish or chicken bones, and even items like paper clips or razor blades in cases related to underlying psychiatric conditions.
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In most cases, the swallowed object passes out of the body naturally, but in some instances, endoscopy or surgery may be required for removal. Children, especially those who have swallowed high-risk objects like multiple magnets, may need surgical intervention due to the potential for complications and intestinal perforation.
Prevention is Key
To avoid the anxiety and potential dangers of objects being swallowed, prevention is crucial. It is essential to ensure that young children do not put small, inedible objects in their mouths, especially sharp objects, button batteries, and magnets. For infants and toddlers, providing them with objects larger than their fists can help prevent accidental ingestion.
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