What to do immediately if a coin gets stuck in a child's throat?

 What to do immediately if a coin gets stuck in a child's throat?

If it gets stuck in the trachea, it will suddenly become very difficult to breathe. A whistling sound may be heard.

What to do immediately if a coin gets stuck in a child's throat?

Swallowing objects such as coins, buttons, and batteries can get stuck in the throat or trachea, and if not treated immediately, there is a risk of death.

Young children are very restless. They are also very excited about everything. Since children's senses develop rapidly, if they come across something new, they will first put it in their mouth. Due to which sometimes something gets stuck in the throat after swallowing.

The problem of food or other objects getting stuck in the throat in children is called choking in medical terms. If not treated immediately, it can cause respiratory obstruction and be life-threatening. This risk is especially high in children under 5 years of age, because their trachea is small. The ability to chew food properly is also not fully developed. According to the US National Institutes of Health, children under 4 years of age are most likely to swallow coins, toys, or small objects, with coin ingestion being the most common cause.

What is choking and why does it happen?

Choking occurs when food, a toy, or other object becomes lodged in the airway or throat, obstructing breathing. This problem can also occur in children if they swallow food without chewing it properly. Foods such as grapes, nuts, candy, or meat can easily become choked.

In addition to food, coins, buttons, or small toy pieces can also become choked when a child puts them in their mouth.

Food can also become choked when children eat too quickly or play. The small size of their airways can also cause this problem.

Since small children's airways are narrow, even small objects can cause complete obstruction. When children put food or any object in their mouths and laugh, cry, or run, they are at increased risk of choking. In addition, small objects in the house such as buttons, batteries, marbles or small toy parts can also be the main cause.

How do coins get stuck in the throat?

Children are at risk of accidentally swallowing coins when playing, laughing, running or talking or crying with a coin in their mouth. Coins can often get stuck in the throat's food pipe and sometimes in the windpipe. This problem is more common in children under 5 years of age.

What happens if a coin is swallowed?

If a coin gets stuck in the food pipe, it can cause difficulty swallowing, drooling, sore throat or chest pain, and a feeling of food and water being stuck.

If the coin reaches the stomach, it will usually pass out on its own within 2-5 days with the stool. However, an X-ray should be done to confirm whether it has come out or not. If the coin reaches the stomach and does not show any symptoms, doctors advise waiting a few days and observing, but regular check-ups are necessary.

If it is a battery that looks like a coin, it is very dangerous and requires immediate treatment. Batteries contain acid. This can cause internal damage, which can lead to wounds, bleeding, or infection. In this case, you should immediately go to the hospital.

How difficult is it to breathe when a coin is stuck?

If it is stuck in the airway, breathing will suddenly become very difficult. A whistling sound may be heard. The lips and face may turn blue and there is a risk of fainting. If food is stuck in the airway, breathing may be normal, but the child will be uncomfortable. He or she may not be able to swallow.

Additional symptoms may include coughing, gagging, loss of appetite, stomach pain, or bloody sputum. If the child is having difficulty breathing, speaking, or eating, immediate emergency treatment is needed.

What to do if the coin is stuck?

Keep the child calm. If breathing is difficult, take him or her to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. If a coin is stuck in the child's throat, do not force your finger down the throat to try to remove it. Do not force food or water. This can make the blockage deeper.

If the child is over 1 year old and has difficulty breathing, place the child on your lap or kneel with the back of your hand facing down. Press the heel of your hand between the shoulders 5 times.

Standing behind the child or kneeling, place your hands on the child's waist and press firmly on the upper abdomen 5 times, which will push the object out.

What can be done?

The location of the coin is determined by taking an X-ray of the throat or chest. In most cases, the coin is removed by endoscopy with a camera inserted through the mouth, which is a safe procedure. If the coin reaches the stomach, you can only be monitored for a while. Emergency bronchoscopy is needed if the coin is stuck in the trachea. If the coin is stuck in the esophagus, endoscopy is more than 90 percent successful.

What are the possible complications?

If the coin is not removed in time, the child's throat or trachea can become sore and swollen, and the risk of infection increases. If it gets stuck for a long time, the food pipe narrows. If it gets stuck in the airway, there is a risk of sudden death. Therefore, even if you suspect that something is stuck in the throat, you should immediately take it to the hospital without delay. Further complications can include lung infection, bleeding, or permanent damage.

Therefore, children should be kept away from small objects. Coins, buttons, batteries, marbles, and small toy parts should be kept out of reach of children.