About this topic
An ingestion means putting something in your mouth and swallowing. Children often put things in their mouth and, sometimes, may swallow them when you are not looking. This is called an accidental ingestion. Most of these things are not harmful to your child. Sometimes, though, it may be a health emergency. ‚
Some things children may swallow only cause minor problems. Other times, more serious problems may happen. Some of them are throwing up, sleepiness, and burns or damage to the mouth and food pipe. ‚
Sometimes, the doctor may only need to ask questions and examine your child. Other times, the doctor may need to treat your child by giving drugs or by removing the substance or object out of the body. Surgery may be needed if the throat and stomach are too damaged and medical treatment is not enough. ‚
What are the causes?
Agents most often swallowed on accident by children are: ‚
- Drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC)
- Vitamins
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Cleaning products, such as laundry detergent pods
- Foreign bodies, such as toys or button batteries
- Plants
- Pesticides
What are the main signs?
When your child swallows something by accident, your child may: ‚
- Cough nonstop
- Not eat
- Have trouble swallowing; gag, choke, or throw up
- Drool or have blood in the spit
- Have breathing problems or noisy breathing or wheezing
- Pass out
- Have belly or chest pain
- Have a fast heartbeat
- Become disoriented
- Have larger or smaller pupils
- Have excess sweating
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
The doctor will take your childs history. The doctor will ask the child what was swallowed and when. The doctor will feel your child's belly for pain or hardness. If you know what your child swallowed, bring the container with you. ‚
The doctor may order: ‚
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Electrocardiogram or ECG
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
The kind of care will be based on what and how much your child swallowed. The doctor may: ‚
- Contact the regional poison control center for advice.
- Give a special kind of charcoal. This may help the body stop taking in the poison.
- Watch your childs heart rate, breathing, and lab results closely.
- Do blood tests to see how much of the poison is in the blood.
- Give a drug or other substance that reverses the effects of what your child swallowed.
- Admit your child to the hospital.
Are there other health problems to treat?
- Very low blood pressure and shock
- Narrowing of food passage
- Lung failure
- Low blood sugar
- Seizures
- Coma
- Very high or very low body temperature
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Treat poisoning
- Reverse the effects of the poison
- Help with pain
- Help your child relax
- Help your child move his bowels
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Keep harmful household chemicals out of the reach of children.
- Use child-resistant locks on cabinets with things that may harm children.
- Keep drugs out of reach of children. Take extra care with drugs in purses, suitcases, or refrigerators.
- Proper storage, like childproof caps and good packaging, will keep children from opening them easily.
- Talk to your child about things that should not be swallowed.
Helpful tips
- Have hospital emergency numbers handy. Also have the number for your local poison control center.
- When you see your child holding the neck with both hands, your child may have swallowed something dangerous. Call for emergency help or see a doctor right away.
- Do not give water or any liquids if your child is having trouble breathing and cannot swallow. Talk to your doctor right away.
- Do not make your child throw up unless told to by a doctor, nurse, or poison control center.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Pediatrics ‚
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/Tips-for-Poison-Prevention-and-Treatment.aspx ‚
American Association of Poison Control Center ‚
http://www.aapcc.org/ ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/sheets/poisoning_sheet.html ‚
World Health Organization ‚
http://www.who.int/gho/phe/chemical_safety/poisons_centres/en/index.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚