Help! My child has swallowed a button battery!

Recently, an 8-year-old boy (our regular patient) was rushed to our clinic. Apparently, the computer mechanic had come into the house to repair the computer. During the course, the child chanced upon the battery, put in the mouth. He was most surprised and scared, when he realized that he had swallowed it. In a panic, the first thing that he did was to drink a lot of water, and informed his parents about a couple of hours later.

We asked for an X-ray of his abdomen and chest and the X-ray abdomen showed:

Since the battery seemed to have gone beyond the stomach, we advised that the child be followed up at home for the natural passage of the battery in stool and to report to the hospital SOS, if the child developed significant abdominal pain or vomiting. Fortunately, this episode ended well and the child did pass the battery next morning.

Button battery cell ingestion is downright dangerous and in an unfortunate minority, can even lead to death. Please do not take this lightly, and report to your pediatrician right away!

What should you do if your child were to swallow a button battery?

Well, firstly do not panic! Call your pediatrician and insist on seeing him/her immediately .

Now try and get the following details:

• If you have another button cell of the same type, get it with you, when you report to your pediatrician.
• If you don’t have another of the same kind, try and let us know the size of the battery, was it an used battery or was it a fresh one, note the exact time (if possible), when the child swallowed the battery, what is the active chemical ingredient in the battery?
• DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING!!! – this is the single most important thing that you should do!
• Do not wait for your pediatrician to be available during routine consultation hours. Go to the emergency and demand to see a pediatrician

Does the swallowed battery have to be removed right away?

Well, it depends on a lot of factors:

• If in the foodpipe: Will definitely have to be removed
• Age of the child: If ≥ 5 years of age, may observe
• Size of battery: If ≥ 20 mm in size, may intervene
• Active ingredient: If lithium, more likely to intervene
• Develops symptoms while being observed: more likely to intervene

How is the battery removed?

The battery is removed by a procedure called as Endoscopy. This involves insertion of a tube through the mouth, under anesthesia, through the windpipe and the stomach. It may be done for two purposes:

1. Either to remove a battery right away or if has not progressed beyond the stomach in 48 hours
2. To see if there has been any damage to the food pipe, even if it is beyond the stomach.

Doctor, why is the button cell so dangerous?

Contrary to what you may think, it is not the electrical charge in the battery that is worrisome, but the chemical that is very alkaline (pH 13, in some cases) that causes caustic burns, just like acids do.

Preventive Measures

1. Keep all batteries out of reach and out of sight of children under lock and key.
2. Check and secure (with tape) all battery compartments.
3. Be especially alert, when changing batteries – preferably do it when the children are asleep or away.
4. Dispose all used batteries safely – they can still be dangerous! (the very size may choke the child!)
5. Never hold the battery in your mouth when changing it – you are sending a wrong signal to your children and it may happen that you yourself, may swallow the battery!

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