Foreign body ingestion during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective single centre review

Abstract

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there were many changes in the provision of healthcare as well as home and educational environments for children. We noted an apparent increase in the number of children presenting with ingested foreign bodies and due to the potential impact of injury from this, further investigated this phenomenon.MethodUsing a prospective electronic record, data were retrospectively collected for patients referred to our institution with foreign body ingestion from March 2020 to September 2020 and compared with the same period the year prior as a control.ResultsDuring the 6-month pandemic period of review, it was observed that 2.5 times more children were referred with foreign body ingestion (n=25) in comparison to the control period (n=10). There was also a significant increase in the proportion of button battery and magnet ingestions during the COVID-19 pandemic (p 0.04).ConclusionThese findings raise concerns of both increased frequency of foreign body ingestion during the COVID-19 pandemic and the nature of ingested foreign bodies linked with significant morbidity. This may relate to the disruption of home and work environments and carries implications for ongoing restrictions. Further awareness of the danger of foreign body ingestion, especially batteries and magnets, is necessary (project ID: 2956).

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Foreign Body Ingestion Trends in Children: A Comparison of the Pre-Pandemic Period to 2020

“…The findings in our study compliment the pandemic patterns of FBI noted separately by Pizzol et al and Festa et al in single pediatric referral centers in the US and United Kingdom, respectively ( 16 , 17 ). Our multicenter analysis enhances the robustness of available evidence to support the protection of children from dangerous FBI.…”

Button battery taping prevents oesophageal injury

“…BBs are commonly found in the household and in children, 62% of BBs were obtained directly from toys or other household objects, 30% were loose or intended for disposal, and 8% were obtained directly from packaging 2,3 . More recently, studies from around the world have shown an increase in BB ingestion during the COVID‐19 pandemic likely in part due to children being home and caregivers who must divide their attention between childcare and work‐from‐home duties 7,8,18,19 . Oesophageal impaction times are often prolonged because BB ingestion is often unwitnessed, and symptoms are non‐specific.…”

“…2,3 More recently, studies from around the world have shown an increase in BB ingestion during the COVID-19 pandemic likely in part due to children being home and caregivers who must divide their attention between childcare and work-from-home duties. 7,8,18,19 Oesophageal impaction times are often prolonged because BB ingestion is often unwitnessed, and symptoms are non-specific. Ninety-two percent of fatalities and 56% of major complications occurred after unwitnessed ingestions.…”

“…One third of BBs are found in the open, sitting outside of packaging or intended for disposal 3 . Public health efforts to increase awareness, industry efforts to improve labelling and packaging, and the development of safer batteries are all underway but oesophageal BB ingestions persist 6–9 . Recently, Health Canada published a public advisory on the dangers of BB ingestion in children 10 .…”

“…3 Public health efforts to increase awareness, industry efforts to improve labelling and packaging, and the development of safer batteries are all underway but oesophageal BB ingestions persist. [6][7][8][9] Recently, Health Canada published a public advisory on the dangers of BB ingestion in children. 10 They recommended placing 'pieces of nonconductive tape (packing, scotch or electrical tape) on either side of BB after removing them from products and before disposing of them'.…”