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Child Swallowed Plastic Button Accidentally. What Should I Do?

Posted on Fri, 13 Dec 2013

Question: Myself 33 yr. old female from India. My 3 yr old girl child swallowed a small rounded plastic button, smaller then a 50 paisa coin. It happened an hr ago. I am worried what to do ?

Answered by Dr. Dr. ARIF N K (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Hope it will pass in stools, if no symptoms. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for choosing XXXXXXX Kindly do not panic, if you are sure the foreign body is of plastic type , a small one and without any sharp objects you need not do anything, except to watch her stools whether the baby passes it in her stools or not. I presume your baby is not having any complaints like respiratory difficulty or any pain abdomen. Kindly get evaluated by a pediatrician if the baby develops any symptoms. Please ask if you have more questions. If you are satisfied, please make sure that your ACCEPT my answer so that I receive credit. Good luck!!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. ARIF N K (12 hours later)

Yes doctor you are right. She is alright presently and behaving normally, eating food etc. I will check her stool. How many days should i wait for it to come out from stool? And in case i do-not find it in her stool then what should i do? Plz. suggest.

Answered by Dr. Dr. ARIF N K (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: wait for 4 to 5 days. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXX, I apologize for the late response; I was away from my computer due to unavoidable reasons. Coming back to your question, kindly wait for 4 to 5 days and see if it passes in the stools. Even if you do not find it in stools, kindly do not be tensed. You need to worry if the baby has any complaints of pain abdomen, fever, bleeding per rectum, vomiting or local tenderness. After considerable time (say 4 days) if you still do not find the foreign body you need to take your baby to a doctor. They will examine and may even advise CT scan (as x-ray won't visualize plastic materials) depending on the case. If the foreign body is still in the abdomen, then it can be retrieved by Endoscopy. If the object remains in any region of the lower GI tract for more than 7 days or if the patient develops signs or symptoms of perforation or obstruction, the foreign body should be removed surgically. Please ask if you have more questions. If you are satisfied, please make sure that your ACCEPT my answer so that I receive credit. Good luck!!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. ARIF N K (57 minutes later)

thank you doctor for your suggestion.

Answered by Dr. Dr. ARIF N K (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: Thank you, all the best. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXX, YOU ARE WELCOME MADAM. Please ask if you have more questions. If you are satisfied, please make sure that your ACCEPT my answer so that I receive credit. Good luck!!

Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D