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Doctors urge parents to watch for certain symptoms if they suspect their child has ingested batteries
Following an alarming rise in the number of children hospitalised for swallowing button batteries (BBI), experts at Dubai’s Al Jalila Hospital have warned that swallowing a button battery could kill your child.
In the first half of this year alone, 13 children were admitted to hospital for endoscopy for swallowing button batteries and magnetic ball toys, compared with 16 in all of 2021.
Coin cells are small coin-shaped batteries that can be found in electronic devices such as remote controls, calculators, LED lights, watches, and key fobs. The shiny surface of the battery can be very attractive for children to play with and cause accidents.
In December, a hospital witnessed an 18-month-old baby die after swallowing a small battery.
Dr Christos Tzivinikos, Head of Paediatric Gastroenterology at Al Jalila Hospital, said: “Chemicals in button batteries can burn holes in children’s esophagus, especially young ones, because their trachea is too small, causing them to bleed to death.” .
“The kid came too late, no one knew he swallowed the button battery and bled to death in his sleep.”
If not detected early and treated quickly, BBI can lead to life-threatening complications and death, as damage can occur within 2 hours.
According to international research, most BBIs occur in children under 6 years of age, and most occur in 1-year-olds, who also have the highest risk of complications. Boys are three times more likely than girls to swallow these foreign objects.
Dr. Christos Tzivinikos advised parents to take their children to Al Jalila Hospital when BBI ingestion is suspected.
“We have a pediatric endoscopist at all times,” he said. “Furthermore, we have a specific protocol to follow if children swallow a foreign object. In many cases, finding a specialist and figuring out what the problem is can be a waste of valuable time.”
“We once had a case where a child came to us after ingesting BBI for almost two months. They went to many other hospitals and couldn’t understand the problem. Fortunately, the child’s battery was placed this way. It did not cause lasting damage.”
He cautioned parents to watch out for these symptoms in their children:
- vomiting or coughing up blood
- drool
- Difficulty swallowing/pain
- irritability
- cough
- Black, tarry, sticky stool
- stomach ache
- lose weight
- chest pain
- high-pitched gasps when breathing
- Shortness of breath
- hoarse
- fever
Magnetic ball toys, which have become popular in recent years, carry similar risks.
“Throw away those magnetic balls,” said Dr. Christos Chivenikos. “These balls are so attractive that they trap the skin between them, and if they are swallowed, they can create holes in the child’s intestines.”
“Unlike button batteries, magnetic balls are completely unnecessary,” he said. “They pose a huge risk and need to be removed from the house completely. While younger children are at a higher risk of swallowing, I would still recommend throwing them away even in households with older children. Even teenagers Tends to do it out of curiosity, with the ball in his mouth.”
BBI has been a special interest of Dr. Christos Tzivinikos, who is also a member of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the Special Interest Group on Intake of Button Cells.
“Coin cells are here to stay,” he said. “So many devices are using them. It is important for parents to understand the seriousness of the problem. If not detected early and treated quickly, BBI can lead to life-threatening complications and death, as damage can occur within two hours .”
He went on to explain that most BBI incidents take place at home.
“That’s why we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of cases over the past few years,” he said. “With the Covid-19 pandemic, kids are spending more time at home. We had a case where a baby swallowed a coin cell battery after a young sibling put it in the baby’s mouth. For the kids Say, the coin cell battery is small and bright and it awakens their curiosity. That’s why parents have to be safe.
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Doctors recommend the following tips for parents to stay safe:
- Determine which devices in your home use coin cell batteries
- Do not leave discarded coin cell batteries at home
- Take used batteries to a collection point, or at least store them out of the sight and reach of children
- Secure the battery compartment securely after replacing the coin cell battery
Here’s what parents must do if they suspect their child has swallowed a coin cell battery or magnetic ball:
- Do not let your child eat or drink
- Do not induce vomiting
- Go to the emergency room of Al Jalila Hospital immediately.If possible, bring appliances with batteries or original product packaging
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