Abstract：
Foreign body ingestion in young children is one of the commonest presentations in the Accident and Emergency Department. It has been estimated that 40% of such ingestions may go unnoticed and the child may remain asymptomatic. However, complications can arise which may need urgent medical attention. Unwitnessed cases can delay the diagnosis as foreign bodies may remain in the oesophagus or stomach for a significant period of time causing non-specific symptoms. An index of suspicion is needed amongst primary and secondary health care practitioners to manage these cases early. Prevention of ingestion in the first place is the key to avoiding such accidents in children. Health visitors and the primary health team can play a significant role in advising parents or carers on how to make the home a safe environment for their child. Adult supervision is of the utmost importance in preschool children while playing with toys and other household objects. We present four cases of accidental ingestion of a foreign body, two of which were reportedly unwitnessed by the carers. Each case carries a lesson for prevention. We discuss clinical aspects of foreign body ingestion in children and provide some guidelines to minimise the risk of accidental ingestions that primary health care professionals can discuss with parents and carers during home visits. Health educational resources for parents and clinics are suggested.
摘要：
幼儿的异物摄入是事故和急诊科最常见的表现之一。据估计，40％的此类摄入可能会被忽视，并且儿童可能不会出现症状。然而,可能出现并发症，可能需要紧急医疗护理。由于异物可能会在食管或胃中停留相当长的一段时间，导致非特异性症状，因此未目睹的病例可能会延迟诊断。初级和中级卫生保健从业人员需要怀疑指数才能及早处理这些病例。首先预防摄入是避免儿童发生此类事故的关键。卫生访客和初级卫生团队可以在为父母或护理人员提供建议方面发挥重要作用，以帮助他们的孩子为家庭提供安全的环境。成人监督在学龄前儿童玩玩具和其他家庭用品时至关重要。我们介绍了四例意外摄入异物的案例，据报道，其中两人没有被看护人目击。每个案例都带有预防的教训。我们讨论了儿童异物摄入的临床方面，并提供了一些指南，以最大程度地减少意外摄入的风险，初级卫生保健专业人员可以在家访期间与父母和护理人员讨论。建议为父母和诊所提供健康教育资源。
