Button batteries an immediate threat if swallowed
They’re small, shiny, smooth and, to many babies and toddlers, irresistible. Button batteries are found in everything from toys, watches and greeting cards, to books, flameless candles and hearing aids. If swallowed, they can result in serious — potentially life-threatening — injury to a child.
Ahead of the holidays, Health Canada has issued a safety alert, warning of the dangers posed by button batteries. According to Dr. Nikolaus Wolter, a staff otolaryngologist at the Hospital for Sick Children, incidents of kids swallowing batteries are on the rise and the injuries are getting worse. Here’s what Wolter says parents and caregivers should know about this risk.
Why are button batteries so dangerous for kids?
One of the ways babies and toddlers explore the world is by putting things in their mouths.
And disk-shaped things like coins or buttons batteries are exactly the right shape and size to be swallowed.
That wet environment inside the throat allows the positive and negative terminals to connect. Once the battery gets lodged, an electric current is triggered, which can cause what’s called a base burn, creating a much more deep and penetrating injury. This process starts after about 15 minutes, and severe injury can happen in as little as two hours.
What kind of injuries can result from a button battery ingestion?
It can be anything from a minor surface burn in the esophagus, to a larger surface injury that can lead to swallowing issues down the road. There can also be holes burned in the esophagus that can lead to lifethreatening chest infections.
Some injuries can present way down the road, sometimes even months after the battery has been removed.
If your child has had a button battery ingestion, and subsequently has chest pain, shortness of breath or bleeding from the mouth or bottom, when you bring your child to care, you need to make sure to mention the history of button battery ingestion.
Are these injuries repairable?
Some are, but others can be quite devastating. And even the repairable ones can be life-threatening.
What symptoms would a child have if there’s a battery lodged in his throat?
It can be hard to tell. Kids don’t usually present with specific symptoms indicating a battery is stuck. They can be completely asymptomatic or have the same symptoms as they would with an upper respiratory tract infection — with some vomiting and drooling. So, it can be challenging to diagnose.
Basically, if you think there is even the remotest possibility your child has swallowed a battery, you need to get him to care as quickly as possible.
That means calling 911 or getting to an emergency department as quickly as possible.
What else should parents do if they suspect, or know, that their child has swallowed a battery?
Definitely do not induce vomiting. Some studies suggest swallowing honey can reduce the amount of injury. The recommended dose is one teaspoon of honey every 10 minutes for three doses within the first 12 hours after ingestion. Apparently, the honey creates a barrier between the battery and the lining of the esophagus that prevents the discharge of the battery.
That said, looking for honey shouldn’t delay getting a child to care by even a minute, because that’s one minute where we could be getting the battery out. Also, we don’t want children under one year old to have honey, because of the risk of botulism.
Some injuries can present way down the road, sometimes even months after the battery has been removed.