Foreign Body

A foreign body (or foreign object) is anything that should not be swallowed. If a foreign body is swallowed, it may become stuck along the digestive tract. Children between 1 and 3 years of age are most at risk of swallowing a foreign body, though this can happen at any age.

Symptoms of swallowing a foreign object include:

Swallowing problems
Coughing
Drooling
Pain
Vomiting

Diagnosis of Foreign Body

If you know your child absolutely or likely swallowed a foreign object, a pediatric gastroenterologist can perform the following exams to make a diagnosis:

Physical exam. A pediatric specialist will talk with you and your child and examine your child’s body.
X-ray. An X-ray will show the object and find out if it is moving through the digestive tract.

Treatments

If your child swallows a foreign body, his or her doctor can do the following:

Watch and wait. If the foreign body is of no danger to your child and can pass through the digestive tract without complications, your child's pediatric gastroenterologist will have you observe your child at home. Sometimes you can see the foreign body in the stool within a few days but not always.
Upper endoscopy. If the foreign object is of danger to your child, cannot be easily passed or is lodged in the esophagus, a pediatric gastroenterologist will perform an endoscopy to remove the object. An endoscope is a long flexible tube with a camera attached. For retrieval of a foreign body, a pair of forceps (grasper) is inserted and used to remove the object from the digestive tract. The procedure is done in the operating room under general anesthesia so that your child will not feel any pain.

If your child swallowed a battery that is present in the esophagus, it must be removed with an emergency endoscopy to avoid life-threatening burns.

Key Points to Remember

Contact your healthcare provider if you believe your child has swallowed a foreign body. If your child swallowed a battery, treat the event as an emergency and seek immediate care.
Most objects will pass through the digestive tract without complication, but it is important that you talk to your child's healthcare provider about treatment options.
If a foreign body is not passable through the digestive tract, your child's pediatric gastroenterologist can perform an endoscopy (an outpatient procedure) to remove the object.
To prevent your child from swallowing a foreign body, keep small objects out of his or her reach.

Support Services & Resources

Visit the websites below to find support groups and services and learn more about foreign bodies.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Medline Plus

Learn about the symptoms of inhaling or swallowing a button battery and what to do if you believe your child has inhaled or swallowed one.

Indiana Poison Center

Call 1.800.222.1222 to reach the emergency telephone service and information resource center of the Indiana Poison Center, the designated Regional Poison Information Center for the state. Services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.