How Parents’ Lack of Awareness Could Be Associated With Foreign Body Aspiration in Children

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) in preschool children is a worldwide challenging clinical problem that can result in life-threatening complications. Three cases of FBA in preschool children are presented. All the children were admitted to the hospital with asthma-like symptoms, without any aspiration history. Although FBA was considered in differential diagnosis, there was no strong evidence to support this diagnosis. The persistence of symptoms despite the appropriate treatment for the asthma symptoms was the main reason for the reconsideration of FBA. All of the children underwent bronchoscopy, with the successful removal of small organic food items from the main bronchi. The main cause of FBA was the parents' lack of awareness concerning the risk of FBA when small organic food items are provided to preschool children. These cases demonstrate that some parents are unfamiliar with the risk of FBA when small organic food items are provided to their children. It is crucial to make it understood that consideration of FBA should be maintained throughout the clinical course of patients with an acute onset of respiratory symptoms, despite the initial lack of evidence to support this diagnosis, and that parental education about the causes and hazards of this condition may be the best preventive measure to decrease its incidence.

Removal of foreign bodies in children's airways using flexible bronchoscopic CO2cryotherapy

“…Foreign body aspiration is a common treatment worldwide for respiratory emergency in children aged between 1 and 3 years and may lead to serious complications . Aspiration of foreign bodies is life‐threatening event without timely and effective diagnosis and treatment .…”

“…Foreign body aspiration is a common treatment worldwide for respiratory emergency in children aged between 1 and 3 years and may lead to serious complications. 1,2 Aspiration of foreign bodies is lifethreatening event without timely and effective diagnosis and treatment. [3][4][5][6][7] Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia typically is used to remove aspirated foreign bodies, 8,9 but flexible bronchoscopy under local anesthesia, possibly followed by rigid bronchoscopy, has been used for diagnosis and treatment.…”

ERS statement: interventional bronchoscopy in children

“…Caregivers and healthcare professionals have called for the general public, and especially parents of young children, to be made aware of the risks of giving children foods that are too small for them to chew and swallow safely, or toys with small detachable parts, and how to identify the signs of FBA [171,[174][175][176]. If caregivers are aware of the risks, and supervise the handling of foreign objects by children, any ingestion, insertion or inhalation can be reported and responded to promptly, thus reducing the risk of damage or even death [175].…”

“…when a caregiver visits the local doctor with a child with acute-onset breathing difficulties [171][172][173]. Recognising FBA as a potential cause of breathing difficulties and performing a bronchoscopy within 24 h of symptom onset reduces the risk of complications [83,174].…”

“…Caregiver education and awareness is essential in reducing the incidence of FBA in preschool children [171,172,174]. Caregivers and healthcare professionals have called for the general public, and especially parents of young children, to be made aware of the risks of giving children foods that are too small for them to chew and swallow safely, or toys with small detachable parts, and how to identify the signs of FBA [171,[174][175][176].…”