saudigastro.com/patients/pediatric-foreign-body-ingestion
Category
Serious
Red flags
5
This article is educational and does not replace your doctor's advice. Seek urgent care for any red-flag symptoms.
What is it?
Young children explore by putting things in their mouths, and swallowing objects such as coins, toys, magnets, small batteries or food pieces is common. Most small, smooth objects such as coins pass through the gut without harm. Some objects are dangerous: button (coin-shaped) batteries, which can burn the food pipe through electrical current, strong magnets (especially more than one), which can pull together through the bowel wall and cause holes, sharp or pointed objects, and large or long objects. Objects stuck in the food pipe, or any suspected battery or magnets, need urgent assessment.
How common is it?
Swallowing foreign objects is very common in children under about five years old, and the number of serious injuries from button batteries and magnets has caused concern worldwide. Many household items contain button batteries, such as remote controls, key fobs, toys, greeting cards, scales and watches.
Why does it happen?
Children are curious, put objects in their mouths, and cannot judge danger. Accidents happen most often when small items, batteries, or magnets are within reach. Children with developmental delay and older children who swallow items deliberately may also be at risk.
Symptoms
- Often no symptoms at all, even with a dangerous object
- Coughing, gagging or choking at the time of swallowing
- Drooling, refusing to eat or drink, or pain on swallowing
- Vomiting, chest pain or belly pain
- Noisy breathing, wheeze or a change in voice
- Fever, blood in the vomit or stool, or a swollen belly (later signs)
Red flags — seek urgent medical care
Any suspected swallowed button battery or magnet(s)
EMERGENCY. Go to the emergency department or call emergency services right now, even if your child seems well. A button battery can cause severe burns within about two hours. Do not wait for symptoms and do not make your child vomit. Take the battery packet or the device with you.
Choking, difficulty breathing, blue lips, or being unable to cough, cry or speak
The airway may be blocked. Call emergency services immediately and begin first aid for choking if you are trained.
Drooling, being unable to swallow saliva, refusing all food and drink, or pain in the throat or chest
The object may be stuck in the food pipe. This needs emergency assessment.
Swallowed a sharp or pointed object, several magnets, or a large or long object
These can pierce or block the bowel. Go to the emergency department even without symptoms.
Vomiting blood, black or bloody stool, severe belly pain, swollen belly, fever, or repeated vomiting
May mean injury or blockage of the bowel. A child who needs urgent care should be seen immediately.
How is it diagnosed?
The doctor asks what was swallowed, when, and what symptoms there are, and examines your child. An X-ray of the neck, chest and belly shows most metal objects, batteries and magnets, and helps locate them. Some objects (for example plastic, glass or wood) may not show up well, and further imaging or endoscopy may be needed. Tell the doctor honestly about any possibility of a battery or magnets, since this changes how urgent the care is.
Outlook — what to expect
Most swallowed objects pass without a problem. When a dangerous object is removed quickly, the outlook is generally good. Delay with button batteries can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening, injuries to the food pipe, airway or large blood vessels, with long-term effects. Prevention and fast action are therefore essential.
Treatment
Habits & Lifestyle
If you suspect a dangerous object has been swallowed, act immediately. There is no home treatment.
- Go to the emergency department or call emergency services right away. Take the packaging or an identical item with you.
- Do NOT make your child vomit, and do not give laxatives or home remedies.
- Do not give food or drink unless a doctor tells you to, because your child may need an anaesthetic. If emergency services or a poison centre give you specific advice on the phone, follow it.
- Keep a child who is choking in the first-aid position taught in a paediatric first-aid course, and call emergency services.
Diet
Food and drink are limited until the team has assessed your child.
- Your child will usually be told not to eat or drink until a decision about removal is made.
- After removal, feeding is restarted gradually as advised, sometimes starting with liquids or soft foods, especially after a battery injury.
- Offer age-appropriate foods only, and avoid hard, round foods such as whole nuts and grapes in young children.
Medications
Medicines do not remove a dangerous swallowed object.
- Do not give laxatives, antacids or home remedies to try to move the object.
- After a battery injury, the team may prescribe medicines to protect the food pipe and treat infection. The doctor decides which medicines and doses.
Procedures & Surgery
Removal is by endoscopy in many cases, and urgency depends on the object.
- Button batteries in the food pipe, and sharp objects, are removed by endoscopy as an emergency, usually under general anaesthetic.
- Other objects in the food pipe are removed urgently or within hours, depending on what and where they are.
- Smooth small objects in the stomach or beyond may be watched and allowed to pass. The team will explain how to check and when to return.
- Surgery is rarely needed for a bowel injury or a blockage.
Living with the condition
- After a battery injury, your child may need repeat endoscopy and long-term follow-up to watch for narrowing of the food pipe.
- Do a safety check of your home: store small batteries, magnets and coins out of reach and consider a paediatric first-aid course.
- Do not blame yourself. Accidents happen quickly even to careful parents.
Questions to ask your doctor
Save this list or print it before your appointment — doctors appreciate prepared patients.
- Does my child need the object removed, and how soon?
- If the object is allowed to pass, how will we know it has gone, and what signs mean we must return?
- Will my child need follow-up after a battery or magnet injury?
- When can my child eat and drink normally again?
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Status: Approved for publication by SGA; individual clinician review is ongoing · Published 24/04/2026
For general education only; it does not replace your doctor’s advice. Individual clinician review of this guide is ongoing. SGA clinician? Review this guide