Coin Ingestion by Child

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 It is very common for children to ingest different foreign bodies. The most common is ingestion of small coins. The child or toddler while playing tends to put the coin in the mouth.  The coin can either go in the digestive tract or in the trachea or wind pipe. If it goes in the windpipe or trachea it can result in a medical emergency. It can obstruct the trachea and result in gagging. Severe respiratory obstruction and breathlessness can occur. The coin may get stuck in the trachea or go in the bronchi.  Immediate bronchoscopy needs to be done. And the coin removed. If the coin is in the upper segment or pharynx, thumping on the back can result in the child coughing out the coin.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A Child Specialist in Karachi, another alternative is that the coin enters the oesophagus. It does not generally produce any symptoms and the coin enters initially the stomach, then the intestines and finally the rectum. The coin can be seen on the X- Ray and the progress followed. Diets like banana and rice and Roti should be given to increase peristalsis and help in propelling the coin out through the stools. It generally takes 3-4 days for the coin to get excreted in the stools. Generally, there is no pain and no side effects.

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