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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What To Be Done As I Have Swallowed A Piece Of Nail?

I think I might have swallowed a piece of nail. I went to see on interne but I get really different answers. Most say it isn t dangerous to swallow fingernails as it is made of keratin and it will go away thanks to the acides in my stomach. But there are also some that say that it is really dangerous. I don t know what to do. I m not even sure if I swallowed it or not! It just that I have a weird sensation in my stomach and under so I don t know.
Tue, 15 Jul 2014
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Emergency Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Please get a check chest xray and erect xray abdomen to localize foreign body.
Any foreign body is dangerous if it get stucked.
There are three normal anatomical constrictions in our digestive tract.
A.crico pharynx
B.lower esophageal sphincter
C.illeo cecal junction
A foreign body will be excreted in stools only if it passes though all these constrictions.
If stucked in any part of digestive tract it might cause perforation.
So please consult a doctor immediately.
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What To Be Done As I Have Swallowed A Piece Of Nail?

Please get a check chest xray and erect xray abdomen to localize foreign body. Any foreign body is dangerous if it get stucked. There are three normal anatomical constrictions in our digestive tract. A.crico pharynx B.lower esophageal sphincter C.illeo cecal junction A foreign body will be excreted in stools only if it passes though all these constrictions. If stucked in any part of digestive tract it might cause perforation. So please consult a doctor immediately.