Families with young children know that young researchers learn the world very actively, and this may not always be safe. Most often, children touch everything that they can reach, and it happens that they taste new unfamiliar objects and drag them into their mouths, not understanding the danger. If a child swallows something, the parents are horrified! They begin to think about how much harm their baby accidentally or specially swallowed can cause. Therefore, mothers and fathers need to know exactly how to act if the baby swallows something inedible.
Dangerous or harmless to health objects - how to find out?
Sometimes parents worry in vain, so it’s useful to know an approximate list of what usually does no harm to the child, and after a while it is naturally excreted from its body. Safe swallowed items:
- small parts from the designer, for example, Lego;
- small buttons;
- various small beads or beads;
- small coins;
- other small items.
But there are cases when swallowed objects can be harmful to health, sometimes even irreparable. Therefore, if the baby swallows something dangerous to life, you should immediately consult a doctor. Considered hazardous to health and requiring immediate response:
- any tablets, even in a single amount;
- all toxic substances or something poisonous, for example, poison for insects;
- large diameter coins;
- any long objects (from 3 cm long - for children up to a year; from 5 cm - for children from a year);
- batteries regardless of their shape and size;
- magnets in an amount of more than one;
- foil.
If a baby has swallowed these or similar items, call a doctor immediately. Because if any of these items stays in the body for a long time, it is fraught with bad consequences.
What should I pay attention to first of all, if the baby swallowed a foreign body? - On what the child’s general condition is. If he is as active as before, then do not worry. A swallowed thing will come out, so to speak, in a natural way. If he continues to play actively, or do something else without complaining about well-being, then do not panic.
The kid swallowed a rounded object
A small, non-toxic round object is the safest option. In a day he will come out by himself. Feed the baby porridge or applesauce so that the foreign thing leaves the baby's body as soon as possible. Pediatricians categorically do not recommend giving dry food to push an object or induce vomiting. Such violent measures can lead to internal damage.
Swallowed a coin - is it dangerous
A coin that has entered the body of a child can cause quite serious consequences. It can block the airways or scratch the wall of the esophagus. You should not be afraid of oxidation, for this the coin will have to spend 3-4 days in the stomach. Small coins in most cases “slip through” without consequences, but make sure that they left the child’s body is necessary.
Potentially dangerous item swallowed.
If you suspect that a child has swallowed a blade, battery, needle or other dangerous object, you should immediately contact a pediatric surgeon. Before the examination, it is important that the baby is at rest, not running. It is strictly forbidden to do an enema, induce vomiting, give a laxative and in other ways help a foreign object to leave the body.
Of particular danger are batteries. Contacting the walls of the intestine or stomach with two poles at once, they lead to damage to the mucous membranes. The batteries contain aggressive toxic substances that are intensively released under the influence of gastric juice. A battery can provoke an ulcer in one hour in the stomach, and a hole may form in the stomach wall after a few hours. If a child swallows a battery, take it to a doctor.
One swallowed magnet is not dangerous, but in combination with other magnets or metal objects can cause damage. Being in different loops of the esophagus, these objects will be attracted and can provoke acute conditions, in particular intestinal obstruction.
Foil
With regard to foil, special vigilance is worthwhile. Foil can be very dangerous when ingested. It will be safest if the foil gets into the digestive tract, so it does not bring any discomfort and health problems. Unfortunately, there are also severe cases when the swallowed foil causes great harm.
Once in the airways, the foil restricts the flow of air to the lungs, resulting in hypoxia. If the larynx or trachea is damaged with foil, cough and vomiting usually begin. This is a protective reaction of the body, which is trying to cope with the ingress of a foreign body. Often at this moment the child will not be able to say anything, and sometimes even will not be able to take a breath. In this case, you should not hesitate and wait for it to end, you need to immediately call an ambulance.
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It is also necessary to consult qualified specialists if there is blood in the child’s mouth. This means that the foil scratched the larynx or esophagus. Even if the child swallowed a small piece of foil and did not show any of the signs described, it is necessary to observe for three days whether the foil came out naturally. Otherwise, the presence of foil in the body can lead to terrible consequences, including disruption of the central nervous system.
The most important thing: if you still care about the parents or the child, you should definitely consult a doctor! This is just the case where it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you are not sure if the child swallowed something or not? The most obvious signs that the baby has swallowed something:
- The child complains of nausea, vomiting occurs;
- The baby is crying due to abdominal pain;
- His feces change outwardly;
- A sharp change in mood;
- Fever;
- Of course, in case of loss of consciousness, it is also likely that he swallowed something.
Surgeon advises Anton Lysov: what to do if a child swallows a foreign object
Coins, batteries, toy parts, crosses, and even parts of a metal drill.In the language of doctors, all these are foreign bodies. They try everything around for a tooth, as a rule, kids aged one to three years. Often everything happens in seconds. Parents, succumbing to panic, do not understand what to do. How to avoid the entry of foreign bodies into the body and what to do if this has already happened, will tell surgeon Anton Lysov in the program "Little things in life."
What needs to be done as soon as the child swallows an object?
- Ask the child to open his mouth. It is possible that the baby has not yet been swallowed, but simply took something inedible into his mouth. In this case, you do not need to scare the child, but carefully pull out the item.
- If the item has really been swallowed and there are dangerous symptoms, call a doctor immediately.
- Observe the condition of the baby, even if at first it seems that everything is fine. Active games, good mood, lack of complaints will show that everything is actually in order and no need to worry.
- When parents have not noticed what exactly the child swallowed, you can ask the baby himself if he can already talk or is able to show a similar subject.
The reason for the immediate appeal to medical care is:
- vomiting, nausea, hemoptysis, increased salivation;
- acute pain in the larynx, esophagus, stomach;
- loss of appetite or refusal of food;
- fever;
- blood during bowel movements or in feces.
If one or more of these symptoms are present, it does not matter how small the swallowed object is. You need to immediately call an ambulance, and while she is on her own, help the baby in the right way.
What to do and what not to do before the arrival of the medical team
If an object has passed through the oral cavity and got stuck somewhere below, but the baby is free to breathe, in no case should you try to pull out a foreign body or “push” a swallowed object with food! It is also forbidden to give laxatives. Sometimes you can hear tips on what helps a crust of bread or a plentiful drink. But the baby in any case does not need to drink or feed! If the child is very thirsty, as well as in case of drying out of his mouth, you can simply moisten your lips or wipe them with a damp cloth. In addition, you need to collect your thoughts, calm down and reassure the child, as well as prepare the necessary documents for possible hospitalization in the hospital.
Only if the child begins to suffocate, do the following:
- Put the baby on his knee so that his head is down.
- Gently tap the palm of your hand between the shoulder blades, directing movements from the bottom up.
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Children up to a year are put on the hand so that the head is lowered down, with the finger of the same hand open the baby's mouth. After that, by the same rules, they slap on the back.
If the baby does not suffocate, you just need to provide him with peace and make sure that he is in a comfortable position, making a minimum of movements. The actions taken in this case are not only inappropriate but also dangerous: you can accidentally move the swallowed object so that it blocks the airways or causes acute pain.
How do doctors work in a hospital
The simplest and most effective study is an X-ray, with which you can determine the location of a foreign body. Not all objects may be visible, therefore, you may need to additionally conduct an ultrasound or endoscopic examination. Children are usually left in the hospital for 2-3 days to monitor the condition or decide whether further intervention is needed. If the item is small and does not pose a threat to health, then the child is provided with peace and with each bowel movement, they check whether the foreign body has left.
Dangerous objects must be urgently removed from the body, in this case the endoscopic method almost always helps.The essence of this method is simple: with the help of an endoscope and a special loop or clamps, an object is pulled out through the mouth, and in some cases they push the foreign body further so that it leaves the body naturally. In severe cases, laparoscopic or abdominal surgery is prescribed, but this is extremely rare.
How to protect a child so that an unpleasant event does not occur
If possible, it is always necessary to keep the child in sight, especially if it is absolutely a crumb who only learned to move independently. Any items that present even the slightest danger must be removed to a safe place. Older children need to talk about safety in a language that is accessible to their age. It is worthwhile to carefully inspect all purchased toys and monitor existing ones so that they are free of damage. Parental love and care, as well as following certain rules will help protect the child from troubles, and if necessary provide first aid if the baby swallows something.
We also read:
- First aid for a child who is choking or choking
- A child has a foreign body in his ear or nose - first aid rules
- What to do if a child is bitten by mosquitoes, midges, bees, wasps - first aid for insect bites
- First aid for a child in emergency situations
Ambulance Dr. Komarovsky: What to do if a child swallows something
School of Health: If a child swallows something
Yes, in fact, you never know what your little spinogryz will decide to put in your mouth. For myself, I took into account that you need to constantly monitor the child and, if possible, not to give the child in the field of vision dangerous things, then the situation with the ingestion of foreign objects can be avoided. I advise you to be as vigilant as possible with your children.
My personal life hack on security measures and avoiding unforeseen situations is 100% certainly not safe, but 80 percent will help.
1. It is imperative to exclude the child’s ability to get to prohibited items (all medicines and medical preparations in the highest drawers of cabinets).
2. From the moment of a more or less conscious comprehension of what is happening around, the child immediately gets the information possible, not practical example: we learn what is hot, sharp, bitter, etc. (Naturally, without fanaticism) we make it clear that interaction with such objects is dangerous and can be painful.
3. Toys by age and without Chinese garbage, it is better to completely abandon the toy than to buy it cheaper, it is not clear what quality.
4.Control the space and maintain order in the house, if you can’t cope with maintaining order yourself, get the help of relatives and close friends (you can find a lot of options if you want).