Alarming Rise in Kids Swallowing Foreign Objects

There is an alarming rise in kids swallowing foreign objects while playing with toys according to a new US research study.

The study done by the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio for a 21-year study from 1995-2015 showed that rate of foreign body injestions had increased from 9.5 to 18 per 10,000 children. Among the foreign bodies swallowed by children accidentally include batteries, small toys, coins, jewellery and other objects that can cause injury or harm to the child. The study noted that children in the age group of one to three were more vulnerable to swallowing of foreign objects. Objects such as button cells can cause chemical burns if it remans stuck in the oesophagus for more than two hours.

The report underscores the importance of safety precautions to be followed by toy manufacturers and parents who give toys to children to keep them engaged. They must also ensure that coins, button cells and plastic objects that can choke a child should be kept out of their reach.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/y6lqfvqk