What do you do if your child puts something in their nose or ear or swallows something they shouldn’t? KidsStreet Urgent Care has you covered with all the information you need on foreign bodies in kids!
Common Foreign Objects in Kids
Kids do the darndest things, and sometimes, that includes putting a marble in their nose.
Small children love to put small objects where they fit, not necessarily where they belong. Common foreign objects removed from children include:
Common Routes of Foreign Bodies
Sometimes foreign objects enter through accidents and sometimes the child has put them there. The most common entry points for foreign bodies include:
- Ears
- Nose
- Mouth
- Eyes
- Skin
Let’s take a look at each route and talk about how to handle each situation.
Ears
Little ones like to place little things in their ears. You may not see the object go in or be able to see it after it’s in. You should suspect a foreign object in their ear if you notice the following symptoms:
- Difficulty hearing
- Drainage from the ear
- Pain or discomfort
- Pulling on their ear
- Redness
If you can see the object sticking out, you may be able to remove it at home. Be careful not to push the object further into the ear canal.
The safest action is to visit your pediatrician or urgent care to have the foreign body removed. Foreign body removal from the ear is usually painless but may be scary for your little one. Your healthcare provider will likely need you to hold your child still while they gently remove the object.
If the object has been there for a while and is causing irritation, your child may need prescriptions. Your healthcare provider may prescribe ear drops to reduce inflammation and antibiotics if an infection occurs.
Nose
Foreign objects in the nose are like foreign objects in the ears. If you do not see the foreign object go in, you should suspect a retained foreign body in the nose if you see the following symptoms:
- Drainage from one side of the nose, especially if it smells bad
- Nosebleed
- Pain or discomfort
- Swelling to the nose
If you can see the object sticking out of your child’s nose, you may be able to remove it at home. However, there is a risk of pushing the object further past the sinuses, and then it may enter your child’s airway or gastrointestinal tract.
The safest choice for foreign object removal from the nose is to visit your pediatrician or urgent care. You will need to hold your child still while the healthcare provider performs the foreign body removal.
As with the ears, your child may need anti-inflammatory medication or antibiotics if an infection has developed from the object.
Mouth
Small children often swallow foreign objects because they explore their world with their hands and mouths. While most swallowed items pass through their system without any complications, some require emergent care.
If the foreign object is a battery, magnet, or sharp, you should seek medical assistance at the emergency department. These objects may require surgery for removal and wound exploration.
You should also go to the emergency department or call 911 if your child is:
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Choking (object may be stuck in the esophagus)
- Drooling
- Having trouble breathing (object lodges in the airway)
- Speaking with a hoarse voice or wheezing
- Vomiting
Foreign objects through the mouth have two possible paths:
- They can be ingested, meaning they are swallowed and will enter the gastrointestinal tract or
- They can be inhaled, meaning they will enter the respiratory tract.
Ingested
(Gastrointestinal Tract)
If none of the emergency room criteria are met and your child can drink fluids and eat food without difficulty, you may watch your child at home. If unsure, you should call your pediatrician or visit urgent care.
Most healthcare providers will order an X-ray of your kiddo’s neck, chest, and abdomen to try to locate the object. They may order follow-up X-rays to track the progress of the foreign object through the gastrointestinal tract and ensure it is not lodged somewhere. They may ask you to watch their poop for the object.
Inhaled (Respiratory Tract)
If you suspect your child has inhaled a foreign object, such as food, you may try to remove it at home by trying these two methods:
- The Heimlich maneuver. Stand or kneel behind your child with one fist on their abdomen and the other hand over your fist. Then pull your fist back towards you in an upward movement to propel the item out.
- Back blows. Sit in a chair with your child on their stomach on your legs, and their head in a downward position while you administer four to five back blows to propel the item out.
If these methods do not work, take your child to the emergency department. The standard care for an inhaled foreign body removal is bronchoscopy. This procedure involves placing your child under anesthesia and putting a scope into their respiratory tract to locate and remove the foreign object. Your child will receive antibiotics to help prevent aspiration pneumonia.
Eyes
Most foreign objects in the eyes are acquired by accident. Airborne particles may get into your little one’s eyes, but they are usually flushed out by tears and blinking.
If your child has continued eye irritation, they should visit the pediatrician or urgent care for further evaluation.
If you have been in an accident and suspect there is any glass or metal in your child’s eyes, visit the emergency room immediately.
Skin
Accidents usually cause foreign objects in the skin. The most common foreign objects are glass, metal, and wood splinters, usually in the soft tissue on their hands.
If your child has a splinter, you may remove it at home.
- Clean the area with soap and water. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or rubbing alcohol, as these will increase pain and slow healing.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Use a clean pair of tweezers sterilized with rubbing alcohol and let them dry.
- Using the tweezers, grasp the splinter as close to the skin as possible and pull it out in the same direction it entered.
- Wash the area with soap and water again.
- Apply a thin layer of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment and a band-aid over the area to prevent infection.
Check with your pediatrician or urgent care if you are unsure of your child’s tetanus immunization status. They may need a booster.
The area with the splinter should heal quickly. If the wound is not healing or you notice signs of infections, like fever, redness, and swelling, visit the pediatrician or urgent care. A fragment of the splinter may still be under the skin.
When to Visit the Emergency Room
You should take your child to the emergency department if:
- The foreign object is a battery or button battery. Batteries can cause a chemical burn that may burn through the soft tissue in the throat and other organs.
- The foreign objects ingested are multiple magnets. Small, powerful magnets can be attracted together in the intestines, possibly breaking through the intestine walls.
- The foreign object ingested is sharp, such as a nail or a needle.
- They are having trouble breathing.
- They have trouble swallowing, excessive drooling, or a hoarse voice.
- They have a foreign object in their eyes.
How To Prevent Foreign Bodies in Kids
The best ways to prevent foreign bodies in kids is to:
- Avoid foods commonly inhaled or lodged in the throat, such as cherry tomatoes, grapes, hard candy, hotdogs, nuts, and popcorn.
- Keep small items out of reach, especially sharp items, button batteries, and magnets.
- Remind older siblings not to share their smaller toys with younger siblings.
- Teach your child not to laugh, play, or talk while eating, which can lead to food inhalation.
- Teach your child not to place things in their ears, nose, and mouth.
Turn to KidsStreet Urgent Care
Does your child need a foreign object removed? KidsStreet Urgent Care is here to help!
Register online to visit one of our kid-focused clinics. You and your little one can conveniently wait at home or in your vehicle. We’ll text you when it’s time to head to the clinic.
KidsStreet loves walk-ins and welcomes them every day! However, we recommend registering online before your visit to reduce in-clinic wait times. Walk-ins join the same queue as those who register online.