If the baby swallows a smooth object without sharp corners, then there is no need to worry too much - wait, and the object will leave the body naturally along with the stool. However, still carefully monitor your child’s well-being. If he starts to feel sick or his temperature rises, consult a doctor immediately. You should also immediately seek medical help if your baby swallows a sharp object. If you see that a child has swallowed some really dangerous object - a needle or a toothpick or any other metal object - rush to the doctor, regardless of the child’s well-being.

If you do not notice a swallowed object in your child’s stool within two days, you should also consult a doctor.

You should not sit idle for a long time if your child has swallowed something. Some objects can not only damage the walls of the esophagus and intestines, but also cause poisoning. Therefore, consult your doctor immediately.

How to teach a child not to put everything he can get his hands on in his mouth?

The main problem is that children It is impossible to wean a child from “tasting” everything- after all, in this way the baby learns the world around us. This behavior will be characteristic of him until he reaches the age of five. That is, no amount of persuasion, explanation or request can force a child not to put anything in his mouth.

Therefore, all that parents can do at this time is to closely monitor their child.

Firstly, try to dangerous objects and products remained out of the baby’s visibility. Such potentially dangerous items include: deflated balloons, any small objects, popcorn, in general, everything that can damage the walls of the esophagus or that a baby can choke on. Parents need to be especially attentive if they go on a visit with their child. In a friend’s apartment there may be a huge number of objects that a child will definitely want to taste. Also be vigilant when traveling outdoors with your child.

When buying toys and clothes for your baby, you should carefully check that the product does not have buttons or other small parts that a child could swallow.

In addition, in case the baby did swallow small item and choked on it, it is useful for parents to know the rules of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

What should you do if your child swallows something and chokes?

If a child chokes and starts coughing - don't bother him. It is quite possible that the baby himself coughs up the object. When you see it in the child's mouth, carefully remove the object. Do not try to pull the object out of the baby's throat by sticking your fingers deep into the baby's mouth - you will only worsen the situation and will not help the baby.

If a child cannot independently cope with suffocation, begins to blush, choke and cannot speak - urgently call an ambulance. While the ambulance is on its way, give him first aid. first aid.

How you can help your child:

No matter how hard we try to protect the baby from danger, no one is immune from accidents. Therefore, all parents should know how to provide first aid to their child. After all, the life of a baby may depend on the actions of loved ones, especially since in emergency situations, minutes sometimes count.

According to statistics, every year millions of foreign bodies enter the gastrointestinal tract of children. This occurs as a result of careless handling of small objects and due to parental oversight. How not to get confused in such a situation?

Most often, the diagnosis of “foreign body” is made in the early childhood. As soon as babies begin to crawl and then walk, they quickly master territories and objects that were previously inaccessible to them, and some of them must strictly be kept out of the reach of children. Acquaintance with new objects occurs in the most detailed way through all available senses. The child needs to turn and examine the “toy” from all sides, be sure to smell it, and most importantly, determine the degree of its edibility. The result of this curiosity is that objects end up in the mouth and then into the gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract baby.

If you witness such a situation, call immediately " ambulance"The baby must be under medical supervision, even if there are no symptoms in the first hours and he feels well. A foreign body with sharp edges (needles, pins, badges, etc.) can get stuck in various parts gastrointestinal tract, which increases the risk of puncture of its wall. Large and heavy foreign bodies (for example, a metal ball) that do not come out on their own and remain in the intestine for a long time can cause significant damage to the wall with bleeding or perforation (violation of integrity). Therefore, if a foreign body enters the gastrointestinal tract, it is imperative to make sure that it comes out, for which each child’s stool is carefully inspected.

If the child was not in your field of vision when everything happened, identifying the presence of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract will be much more difficult. In addition, often children, fearing punishment, hide this fact from their parents.

Typically, babies swallow small things - toys or their parts, coins, buttons, fruit seeds. As a rule, the child does not experience any unpleasant sensations, except for fear. In the future, the baby may not have any complaints, since in most cases small objects come out on their own within 2-3 days.

If an object of considerable size blocks the lumen of the esophagus, then choking, profuse salivation, and possibly hiccups, belching, nausea, and vomiting immediately appear. Any food and water eaten comes back out.

Be careful of batteries!

Seek medical attention immediately if a battery is found to be a foreign body. In the stomach containing hydrochloric acid, the nutrient element, oxidizing and releasing aggressive substances, can damage the mucous membrane due to a chemical burn. Ulcers can form in this area, leading to life-threatening complications. Disc batteries are especially dangerous in the esophagus, where they can quickly cause necrosis and perforation (death and rupture) of the esophagus wall.

A child has swallowed a foreign object: what to do?

As you can see, the baby’s behavior and symptoms will depend on the size, shape, and material of the object that the child swallowed. If you suspect the presence of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract, the first step should be to resolve the issue of transporting the baby to the hospital as soon as possible. It is urgent to call an ambulance and take the child to a hospital, preferably to a multidisciplinary one, which has surgical, X-ray, endoscopic, and ultrasound departments available around the clock. In Moscow these are Izmailovskaya Children's City Clinical Hospital, Filatovskaya Children's City Clinical Hospital, St. Vladimir Hospital, etc.

Before the ambulance arrives, parents should not make any attempts to pull out, shake out, or “push” the foreign body further into the stomach (for example, by giving the child bread). Your actions can only cause harm. You cannot feed or give water to the child, including. You can moisten your lips with water if they are dry. We must try, if possible, to calm the baby down and collect the necessary documents for the hospital: medical insurance for the child and mother.

If the baby is coughing, choking, or choking, you can tap the edge of your palm or your fingers on his back between the shoulder blades, directing the blows from bottom to top, throwing the baby over your knee so that the upper body is lowered. A child under 1 year of age is placed face down on the arm, head slightly lowered, index or middle finger The “support” hand is placed in the child’s mouth, opening it, and the free hand is patted on the back. This should not be done if the baby is able to breathe, as sharp pats may dislodge the object in such a way that it blocks or causes swelling in the airway, making breathing very difficult. Do not forget that the main goal of the actions taken is to facilitate breathing (if it is difficult). If there is no difficulty breathing, then you should wait for the ambulance to arrive.

In the hospital: examination and removal

In the emergency department, the child is examined by a pediatrician and a surgeon, and if necessary, additional examinations are carried out: X-ray, endoscopic or ultrasound. It should be remembered that only metallic foreign bodies, stones and some types of glass are visible on an x-ray - plastic and wooden objects are not detected due to the texture of the material. Based on the examination and these research methods, a diagnosis is made and the level of location of the foreign body is determined. The child is left in the hospital and in most cases is observed until the object comes out on its own (usually 2-3 days), with a laxative prescribed.

If urgent removal of a foreign body is necessary or its movement through the gastrointestinal tract is difficult, then in 99% of cases the endoscopic method of treatment helps. This is possible when the foreign body is located no lower than the duodenum, where a fibroesophagogastroduodenoscope (endoscope 1, which can be used to remove a foreign body from the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract: esophagus, stomach, initial parts of the small intestine) can be reached. Removal of a foreign body occurs using an endoscopic loop, basket or clamps passed through an endoscope, which is inserted through the mouth 2.

Sometimes a foreign body can be pushed through with a device, and in the future, when taking a laxative, this will help it leave the body faster naturally. If it is not possible to remove the foreign body endoscopically, laparoscopic or abdominal surgery is performed, which is always more traumatic for the body and is associated with a much larger number of possible complications. Laparoscopic surgery differs from abdominal surgery in that a large incision is not made on the anterior abdominal wall, and through small holes a laparoscope 3 and special surgical instruments used by surgeons are inserted into the abdominal cavity. The method of surgical intervention is chosen by the surgeon depending on where the foreign body is located, what its shape and size are, taking into account the child’s condition.

Prevention

You should not leave your baby alone unattended. It is necessary to remove small dangerous objects out of reach of the baby. You should be extremely careful when choosing toys: they must be appropriate for the baby’s age and not have small or easily breakable parts.

1 Endoscope - (Greek endo - “inside”, skopeo - “to examine, examine”) is the general name of tubular optical devices with a lighting device, designed for visual examination of cavities and channels of the body into which the endoscope is inserted through natural or artificial openings.
2 See article "Endoscopy", No. 4, 2007.
3 A laparoscope (Greek lapara - belly, skopeo - “to examine, examine”) is a type of endoscope, which is a metal tube with a complex system of lenses and a light guide. The laparoscope is designed to transmit images from abdominal cavity human body.

Alexey Krasavin, endoscopist,
Izmailovskaya Children's City Clinical Hospital, Moscow

Discussion

16.12.2018 16:59:18, alyapolyakowa

Comment on the article "If a child swallows something"

The child swallowed a small object. First aid, foreign body removal. My daughter swallowed a battery from a computer (3 cm in diameter), an ambulance arrived, they told me to feed the child bread and porridge to create a food ball, the ball will come out in about 3 days...

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If the child swallowed something. What to do if a child swallows something. First aid, foreign body removal. Children often put objects in their mouths, and many of the elements contained in the Lego constructor can, through negligence, be carried out by a child for at least a couple of days.

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But dad knew exactly what she swallowed and went to the doctor. What I mean is that you need to go to the doctor to calm down. Section: Medical Issues (If a child swallows a foreign object, report it to the Juvenile Department).

At about 7 months, babies begin to put into their mouths. various toys and objects. This is caused by the desire to massage the gums to get rid of itching during teething. Older people can taste something unusual. Between the ages of 1 and 3 years, approximately 20% of children swallow some small items. The pediatrician will tell you how to understand that a child has swallowed a foreign object. The employees of the Daughters-Sons online store will help you choose safe teethers.

Signs that a child has swallowed a foreign object




To prevent your baby from putting small items into his mouth, provide him with safe teethers, especially during the period when his first teeth appear. The “Giraffe” model, made of environmentally friendly plastic, is perfect.

If an infant puts something inedible in its mouth, parents should immediately remove the foreign body. If a baby swallows a tiny product without sharp parts, he may only choke. Swallowing a large, toxic or sharp object causes pain and nausea in the throat and esophagus. Severe vomiting and traces of blood in the stool may occur.

Symptoms if a child swallows a foreign object:

  • anxiety caused by abdominal pain;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • frequent belching and excessive salivation;
  • blood in the stool;
  • refusal of any food;
  • increase in temperature (cause - intoxication);
  • bad mood, crying.

If you detect at least one of the listed symptoms, you should call an ambulance. Small buttons and parts from a rattle can pass out of the body naturally. To be sure, check the contents of the diaper. If the baby is not capricious and behaves normally, you can wait, but no more than two days.

Important!

How can you tell if a child has swallowed a foreign object? When children are still unable or afraid to answer their parents’ questions, it is necessary to undergo an examination: an ultrasound, x-ray or endoscopy. It is necessary to examine the respiratory tract, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.

The baby should be shown to the pediatrician first. Doing an enema at home, inducing vomiting, or giving laxatives is strictly prohibited. This will spoil the complete picture before the examination.

Conclusions

How can you tell if a child has swallowed a foreign object? This may be indicated by vomiting, nausea, crying from severe abdominal pain, detection of mucus or blood in the stool, as well as excessive salivation, high fever and lack of appetite. If you have such signs, you should immediately go to the doctor. Negative consequences can be avoided if you offer your baby educational toys that cannot be disassembled and do not contain sharp parts.

Correcting malocclusion is a complex and lengthy process. The patient has to wear the system on his teeth for two or more years.

During this period, the correct operation of the correction mechanism may be impaired. A common problem is when a brace comes off.

The bottom line is that the adhesive used by the orthodontist for fixation cannot remain strong indefinitely. And even if the elements of the system are “dead” glued, dismantling them at the end of treatment will be quite problematic.

It’s good if the arch remains in the bracket groove after peeling off. It can be removed and secured to the surface of the tooth using wax.

But what if the lock was accidentally swallowed? In this article we will look at possible consequences swallowing individual parts of the corrective system and ways to solve the problem that has arisen.

Causes of fixation disorders

The contacts of a lock fixed with glue on the surface of a dental unit may become weaker for a number of reasons, each of which contributes to the disconnection of the corrective link of the system.

Let's look at them in detail:

  1. Inadequate system maintenance. Many people believe that hygienic cleaning of braces is no different from the usual oral care procedures.

    This opinion is wrong. The system must be cleaned after every meal.

    Ignoring this rule can lead to the formation of hard deposits on the teeth, the formation of carious cavities near the fastening contacts, and weakening of the adhesion of the glue that was used to fix the braces on the surface of the teeth.

  2. Abuse of hard and sticky foods. Each patient should understand that after installation of the braces system, the diet will be partially changed.

    It is forbidden to eat foods that are too hard or sticky. For a while you will have to forget about crackers, toffees, nuts, chewing gum, etc.

    The fact is that during the correction process it is extremely important to maintain optimal functionality of all components of the system.

    If an unexpected breakdown occurs and the patient swallows one of the elements, then the reason most likely lies in a violation of medical recommendations regarding dietary restrictions.

  3. Inaccurate operation of the structure. The system consists not only of locks, arches and springs, but also of secondary elements.

    And if the orthodontic wire element is characterized by increased strength, then braces and spring parts are practically devoid of this significant property.

    Based on this, the patient must comply with a number of restrictive requirements: refuse to engage in contact sports, avoid fights and facial injuries.

  4. Excessive hot or cold food. Dangerous product - ice cream. It can be eaten when thawed.

    The fact is that significant temperature changes have a detrimental effect on the adhesive properties of surfaces, thereby causing the lock to come off. For the same reason, you should refrain from drinking very hot drinks.

Dangers of elements entering the esophagus

It is worth noting that the swallowed ligature does not entail health consequences. The elastic element comes out in the usual way for the body, and part of the burst wire ligature will most likely be dissolved by gastric juice.

If in digestive system If part of the arc is hit, this may result in damage to soft tissues. Therefore, the patient must seek help from a medical facility.

Before visiting a doctor, it is forbidden to eat, which will help prevent debris from entering the stomach.

A part of an orthodontic arch that gets into the esophagus can provoke a number of serious complications, namely:

  • mediastinitis;
  • paresis;
  • organ perforation;
  • injury to the trachea, bronchi;
  • periesophagitis;
  • paralysis of the inferior laryngeal nerves.

After being hit by an element of the corrective system, the patient must pull himself together, not give in to panic and immediately seek medical advice.

In fact, possible unpleasant consequences, provoked by swallowing an intact lock, are excluded.

Such a problem cannot promise serious problems with health, since the biologically pure materials from which the correction system is made are absolutely safe for the human body.

The brace will not remain in the digestive tract, but will soon come out naturally. Sharp damaged contours of the part cannot injure the walls of the esophagus, stomach or intestines due to the small size of the product.

Remarkable! In any case, instead of a detached bracket, a new link is inserted into the orthodontic system. Once swallowed, the product must not be reused.

Inhalation of small parts

If structural elements enter the respiratory system, it is very dangerous. A bracket or piece of arch can partially/completely block the lumen of the trachea and bronchi. If the overlap is partial, ventilation of the lungs becomes difficult.

Full overlap works like an air flow regulator. That is, when you inhale, air enters the lungs, and its exit when you exhale is blocked. This condition can cost a person’s life, so medical assistance must be immediate.

At the slightest suspicion of aspiration, the doctor prescribes an X-ray examination, auscultation and endoscopic diagnosis of the trachea and bronchi.

Before the ambulance arrives, first aid measures must be taken. Firstly, do not cough too much under any circumstances. The fact is that when a foreign object enters the glottis, the body’s reflex mechanism is triggered.

The muscles are in a state of spasm, which causes coughing attacks. However, clearing your throat hysterically will not remove the object; on the contrary, such a defensive reaction further aggravates the situation.

Secondly, it is important to find a person nearby and ask for help, which consists of the following actions:

  1. Tilt the victim's torso forward and lightly hit the interscapular space with your palm.
  2. Stand up to the person, wrap your arms around his ribs and lock them together. Protruding joint thumb press firmly into the epigastric area. Repeat the manipulation more than once.

Treatment of a patient with a brace or other part of the corrective system in the respiratory tract is carried out in the otolaryngology department using endoscopic forceps and under general anesthesia.

Actions of specialists

As a rule, a swallowed foreign object passes through the esophagus and comes out naturally after 3-6 days. Despite the comforting forecasts, X-ray monitoring in a clinical setting is mandatory.

The study will help control the movement of an object through the intestines. If an intact swallowed bracket cannot harm health, then a part of an orthodontic arch that ends up in the digestive tract can become potentially dangerous to a person.

The sharp edges of the wire element may catch on soft fabrics as it moves through the digestive tract.

In any case, after swallowing a brace system element, you should consult a doctor. Let us consider in detail the essence of medical care for ingestion of component parts of the structure.

The first action of a doctor upon admission of a patient with complaints of swallowing a foreign body is to classify the object by material, size, shape, and deformation.

To determine the degree of danger of a product, you need to know a number of parameters:

  • length (especially important if part of the arc was swallowed);
  • shape of edges and surface (sharp, blunt, round);
  • material (metal, plastic, sapphire);
  • characteristics of radioactivity, chemical inertness.

It is important to note that any metal object that enters the digestive tract can be potentially dangerous. The risks increase if one of the listed factors occurs. For example, at the same time: metal with sharp edges.

A stuck element of the corrective system in the digestive lumen can provoke spasms, pain, difficulty swallowing, and gagging.

Regardless of the characteristics of the part that has entered the digestive tract, mandatory diagnostic studies are carried out. The doctor examines the neck, larynx, pharynx, and also prescribes x-rays and esophagoscopy.

These instrumental research methods make it possible to assess the condition of the walls of the esophagus and identify possible damage.

Thanks to two projections of the x-ray, the specialist can easily examine the x-ray contrast – the bracket, part of the arch, ligature. Based on the data obtained, surgical or conservative treatment is prescribed.

In emergency situations, when there is damage to internal soft structures, therapy is based on the immediate removal of a foreign object from the lumen of the esophagus.

Conservative methods consist of prescribing medications to the patient that have enveloping properties. Furacilin washes and a specially designed short-term diet are also appropriate.

If the above methods are ineffective, the specialist prescribes endoscopy, which allows you to quickly remove the element using a fibroesophagoscope. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

If components of the corrective system enter the respiratory tract, a physical examination, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics will be required. The doctor must assess the general condition of the patient, determine vocal tremor, and the color of the skin and mucous membranes.

Clinical tests help evaluate severe bronchopulmonary disorders. The patient also needs to undergo chest X-ray and fluoroscopy.

Non-drug treatment includes physiotherapeutic measures aimed at suppressing inflammatory processes in the bronchopulmonary system. Inhalation therapy has also proven effective.

During surgical treatment, endoscopic interventions are used. The choice of technique is made taking into account the location of the element, the age category of the patient and the severity of adverse consequences.

For reference! Metal objects are removed using magnets.

In the video, the patient will talk about his unpleasant experience of unsticking the braces.

Precautions

If during the correction process the patient’s bracket comes off and is swallowed, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor. The fact is that this situation mainly affects the integrity of the structure, and therefore the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment.

You can go without a brace for a maximum of 7 days. A longer period entails irreversible consequences. Dental units are in a state of continuous movement, and changes to the entire structure will be difficult to eliminate.

To prevent this, it is important to strictly follow medical recommendations after installing braces.

The patient’s task is to adhere to a gentle diet, exclude hard and sticky foods from the diet, carry out careful and regular care of the structure, monitor the integrity of all elements and the reliability of their fixation.

A small child is such a restless creature that constantly requires the attention and vigilant control of mom, dad and grandmother. As soon as the baby learns to crawl and then walk, he begins to explore the world and various objects. And it’s good if he just took a book, spoon or any other object to play. But little children love to try different things. And sometimes a mother, without seeing how her miracle swallowed a battery or a designer part, cannot understand why he suddenly felt bad, and where this terrible cough came from.

The baby’s desire to taste everything is nothing more than a natural reaction to the outside world, a desire to explore surrounding things with the help of taste buds. But often, just licking and trying to chew on the item being examined does not end the matter. As a rule, the last stage of getting to know an object is swallowing it. What to do in such a situation, what to do first, and what absolutely should not be done? About all this in our article today.

The eaten thing can leave the body on its own. But since this happens rarely, you should not sit over the child and wait for this moment. You need to provide first aid immediately to prevent dangerous consequences.

Each swallowed object can behave differently in the body. In addition, the algorithm of actions is different. For example, if a baby swallows a button (a streamlined, smooth object), it may come out on its own. Larger and more dangerous objects (needle, magnet, battery) can linger in the gastrointestinal tract and cause trouble. In this case, you need to call a doctor or take the baby to a medical facility.

And since swallowed products behave differently in a child’s body and their traumatic effect is also different, the first aid algorithm will also be different. More details about first aid in the table.

Item Signs What to do
Magnet

Magnetic ball

 If the baby swallowed a part and you didn’t see it, you can suspect something is wrong by the appearance of a runny nose, cough, or pain in the stomach. You cannot induce vomiting or give food yourself. The first thing to do is call a doctor. Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner is fraught with disastrous consequences. A magnet with sharp edges can injure the gastrointestinal mucosa. If several magnets are swallowed, they can attract each other, seriously injuring the intestines.
Polyurethane foam There may be pain in the abdomen. Foam can harden in the intestines and create an insurmountable barrier to the movement of feces. In this case, it is necessary to show the baby to the doctor. The sooner the object is removed, the faster the baby’s condition returns to normal.
Battery The object may become stuck in the throat. In this case, coughing and suffocation may occur. In addition, it is possible to change the stool. The stool will turn greenish or black. Often there is an increase in body temperature, vomiting and loss of consciousness. If the baby begins to choke, it is necessary to induce vomiting. Next, you need to call an ambulance or take the child to the hospital.
Pushpin

glass shard

Metal products with uneven edges

 Accompanied by active salivation, coughing, choking, facial redness, hiccups, vomiting, blood in the stool. You must call a doctor immediately. It is equally important to examine the baby’s mouth for any debris. It is impossible to remove fragments that are localized in the area of ​​the palatoglossus arch.
Chewing gum One piece of chewing gum swallowed is usually not accompanied by symptoms. If a child swallows several chewing gums, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea may occur. One piece of chewing gum that is swallowed is not dangerous for the baby. If he “ate” a lot chewing gum, you need to observe for some time. If any abnormalities occur, you must make an appointment with a doctor.
Coin The appearance of anxiety, irritability, and tearfulness is noted. In addition, regurgitation, shortness of breath, coughing, and increased salivation may occur. If your baby's condition worsens significantly as a result of swallowing a coin, consult a doctor immediately.
Button There are often no symptoms. There is no need to feed your child laxatives or induce vomiting. If the baby's condition is normal, wait, the button will come out along with the feces. If your child's behavior changes, consult a doctor.
Boltik

Metal ball

 Accompanied by hiccups, drooling, irritability, and abdominal pain. It is necessary to take the baby to the hospital. It should remain there until the foreign object comes out in the feces.
Needle When such objects enter the digestive system, excessive salivation, coughing, anxiety, sweating, and increased temperature are observed. Call a doctor immediately or take the little patient to the hospital. Do not allow the child to move a lot (this may cause the sharp object to move into soft tissue). It is contraindicated to give laxatives, induce vomiting or shake the baby.
Mercury There is an onset of malaise, high temperature, headache, increased salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea. In this case, it is not the mercury balls themselves that pose the threat, but its vapor. Inhalation of vapors of the substance can cause damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and lungs. In such a situation, it is contraindicated to hesitate. You must quickly call an ambulance. While the ambulance is on its way, parents need to make the baby vomit.
Medications (tablet, capsule) The first manifestations will appear after the substances begin to be absorbed into the blood. Symptoms will depend on which drug was ingested. Irritability, convulsions, fainting, nausea and vomiting, and increased temperature may occur. The first thing to do is call an ambulance. Before her arrival, it is necessary to rinse the stomach, induce vomiting, and then give several tablets of activated or other sorbent
Hydrogel

Silica gel

 Getting such chemicals into the stomach can cause severe intoxication. It is necessary to call a doctor, rinse the stomach and give an absorbent to drink.
Foil The appearance of lethargy, irritability, malaise is noted You need to call a doctor. Before the doctor arrives, it is forbidden to induce vomiting, feed or drink, or give laxatives.
Plasticine Lethargy and moodiness appear. Allergic manifestations (rashes) may occur. A small piece of plasticine is harmless. If a large piece enters the gastrointestinal tract, it can lead to intestinal obstruction.

It is necessary to take the child to the doctor.
cotton wool As a rule, it is not accompanied by any symptoms. Observe the child's behavior and condition. Call a doctor if necessary.
Plastic products If the swallowed object is small and without sharp edges, symptoms may not appear. If a piece of plastic is swallowed, malaise, abdominal pain, tearfulness, and blood in the stool may occur. Observe the small patient's stool. If suspicious signs appear, take him to the hospital.
Tooth There are no symptoms. Often, a tooth, once in the gastrointestinal tract, leaves the body naturally. You cannot induce vomiting. If your child's behavior changes, or if the condition worsens, go to the hospital.
fruit seed Pain in the epigastrium and blood in the stool may occur. As a rule, fruit seeds are passed out along with feces. If this does not happen, consult a doctor.
fish bone Coughing, choking, and drooling are noted. The child needs to be taken to the hospital.

The most dangerous items if swallowed are the following:

  1. Having large sizes. This is fraught with intestinal obstruction due to blockage by a foreign body.
  2. Having sharp and piercing edges. If such objects enter the gastrointestinal tract, there is a risk of puncturing the walls of the stomach or intestines, which will necessitate surgery.
  3. Small button-shaped batteries. There is an electrode inside such products, which can discharge in the esophagus or stomach and injure organs.

Reasons why children swallow various objects

Foreign bodies in children's bellies are found more often than in adults; appendicitis is operated on or CVS pathologies, in particular heart attack, are diagnosed. According to statistics, every fifth child in the world swallows something that is clearly unfit for food. Every parent needs to be as vigilant as possible so that a small alien thing does not cause big trouble.

So why does the baby constantly put everything he sees in his mouth? The main thing is to understand a simple truth: it is not the child’s fault for accidentally swallowing a ring or button. In childhood, there are several objective physiological reasons, according to which children swallow all sorts of unnecessary things. The main thing is not to blame him and not to scold him in any way. All you need to do if you see that your child “had breakfast” with a pen cap is to help him and call a doctor.

The main reasons for cognition of everything around us through swallowing include:

  • lack of adequate assessment of the physical parameters of objects. The child does not understand that the thing is sharp, hot, hard, or at least inedible;
  • lack of self-preservation instinct. It costs nothing for a child to put an object into his mouth that only by its appearance repels an adult;
  • lack of negative experience. The “don’t put poop in your mouth” program is not laid down at the genetic level. The child needs to experience the problem in practice. Only in this way will he be able to understand that this cannot be done, otherwise his stomach will hurt and an unfamiliar uncle in a white coat will come.

Even if there had already been a sad experience, the baby might simply not have learned it. In other words, several similar situations are needed to develop the reflex “you can’t put it in your mouth, chew it, or lick it.”

  • lack of proper communication. Young children are not yet able to share negative experiences; they are not able to discuss different situations, in particular those that happened to them. In other words, the child cannot tell that he swallowed a designer part, the mother panicked and called the doctors, who came and began to scold him.

In general, children do not yet realize the seriousness of the situation; they do not know what it entails. In such a situation, all you have to do is provide first aid and consult a doctor so that nothing bad happens to your baby.

What age children are most likely to experience this problem?

Babies may put an object in their mouth as soon as they can reach it. This means that the “starting point” when mom and dad need to be especially vigilant is the seventh or eighth month of life. That is, when a child begins to crawl and tries in every possible way to reach the unknown.

At this time, little things seem to be created so that parents are constantly in tension. Since a baby’s vision is imperfect in the first year of life, and he is just learning to focus, first of all he will fix his gaze on something bright and small that appears in his path.

Sometimes new mothers are saved by the fact that due to imperfect vision, the child may simply not see a dangerous object nearby, even if it is very close. But under no circumstances should you hope that your child will not notice a dangerous thing.

According to statistics, most often children swallow foreign parts between the ages of one and three. During this period, they become more nimble, many are already taking their first steps, which means that the reach zone of the “toy”, which must be tried, increases.

Parents always need to be on their guard. It should be understood that the age of little “swallowers” ​​is not limited to either three or six years. Then the age of various experiments will begin, when children may deliberately or consciously try an inedible thing. This is especially true for those who go to kindergarten or has many friends, and subconsciously tries to brag about his achievements to others.

Child school age, even while at home, studying homework, he may accidentally swallow an object that was previously just hanging around in his mouth. And there are many such examples. Therefore, parents need to always be on guard, even if the child is already 7 years old.

How to tell if your child has eaten something inedible

The fact that the baby swallowed small detail, be it a bead, coin or nut, often goes unnoticed. Mom may find out about this by accident when the eaten item comes out along with the feces. And it’s good if it all ends this way. But more often than not, everything happens a little differently.

And only an attentive parent can suspect something is wrong. What should be alarming is that the child suddenly became whiny, his behavior changed dramatically. In this case, the baby may feel guilty, which is why he stops behaving as he usually does.

In this case, you need to try to talk to him and try to find out if he accidentally swallowed the “colored candy.” Moreover, the conversation should be calm, the tone should be affectionate. Believe me, you won’t achieve anything by screaming, the child will close in on himself and will refuse to make contact in every possible way. Even if he feels bad, he will tolerate it, but will not tell you anything.

If the child is still very small and is not able to tell you what happened, you can understand what happened to him by the following signs. Often, a foreign body entering a child’s gastrointestinal tract (especially if it is larger than 1 cm) appears immediately and is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • sharp sudden choking;
  • we cry;
  • increased salivation;
  • belching;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • changes in the characteristics of feces, for example the appearance of mucus in them;
  • behavioral disorder;
  • loss of consciousness (in rare cases);
  • paleness;
  • loss of appetite;
  • increasing temperature.

Most often, children swallow foreign objects that do not exceed the diameter of the esophagus, and therefore the entire gastrointestinal tract, and this in turn means that the part can come out naturally. Sometimes, due to a delay in the folds of the gastrointestinal tract, the object does not come out along with the feces.

In this case, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital. Do not hesitate to visit a specialist, this is fraught with disastrous consequences.

What actions are contraindicated

In panic, we can, albeit unconsciously, make the situation worse. In order not to harm the baby even more, every parent should know what absolutely should not be done if the child has swallowed something inedible.

1. Do not shake the baby under any circumstances, do not pat him on the back, do not turn him upside down (in the hope that the object will fall out). Such actions are fraught with unfolding of the object in a narrow place, displacement into the respiratory tract, and injury to the gastrointestinal mucosa.

2. Do not force your child to eat a crust of bread if he chokes on a fish bone. This can cause injury to the esophageal mucosa.

Do not remove the swallowed product yourself, either with your fingers or with tweezers. This must be done by a doctor, using sterile instruments.

3. If your baby has a cough or begins to choke and the ambulance has not yet arrived, place him face down on your knee. In this case, the upper half of the body should be lowered. Tap lightly with your fingers between your shoulder blades.

Is it possible to prevent the problem?

Unfortunately, parents do not have 100 eyes and they cannot follow every step and action of the child. Some children's affairs remain without parental attention. And it’s good if everything ends well, and not with hospitalization. To minimize the risk of foreign bodies entering the child’s body, experts advise:

  • remove small parts from the floor;
  • buy toys according to age;
  • do not allow your child to play with pins, needles, or glass;
  • if a child plays with beads, toys with a magnet must be with him all the time;
  • prevent thermometers, building materials, and nails from falling into the child’s hands.