Foreign body ingestion is a frequent reason for pediatric visits. Some of the most common culprits include coins, small toys, and sharp metallic objects. Young patients who are developmentally delayed are at risk and may also present with less frequently seen foreign bodies.
Ingestion of a foreign body in pediatric patients requires urgent and even after-hours care. The good news is that our medical clinic can attend to these types of cases. The primary site of entrapment for esophageal foreign bodies is the proximal esophagus. Other areas may include mid-esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter. Sharp items can even lodge anywhere and patients who have esophageal abnormalities are at risk for entrapment in atypical locations.
While most objects pass easily through the intestine, entrapment may occur at the pylorus and the ileocecal valve – some parts found in one’s stomach. Children who might have intestinal abnormalities are at an increased risk for failing to pass the object normally and easily. Thus, emergency services, such as our urgent care in California, might be necessary.
Some ingestions in children may be asymptomatic while others can lead to respiratory distress or an acute abdomen. Objects lodged in the esophagus can cause drooling, a foreign body sensation, or respiratory distress due to tracheal compression. Development of symptoms or failure to see progress in the child after 24 hours can prompt removal of the foreign body to avoid complications.
If you experience foreign ingestion in your child, be sure to visit our urgent care clinic in Sebastopol, California. Or you can simply call Progressive Urgent Care – Sebastopol to know more about foreign body removal.