FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Foreign-body ingestions (FBIs) are common in children aged younger than 6 years and have increased over time, according to a study published online April 12 in Pediatrics.
Danielle Orsagh-Yentis, M.D., from the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for children younger than 6 years who were treated with suspected FBI. Based on 29,893 cases, national estimates were generated.
The researchers found that during the study period, 759,074 children <6 years of age were estimated to have been evaluated for FBIs in emergency departments. Per 10,000 children, the annual rate of FBI increased by 91.5 percent from 1995 to 2015 (from 9.5 to 18). FBI occurred more frequently in boys (52.9 percent) and in children aged 1 year (21.3 percent). After their suspected ingestion, most children were able to be discharged (89.7 percent). Coins were the most frequent type of object ingested, followed by toys, jewelry, and batteries (61.7, 10.3, 7.0, and 6.8 percent, respectively). During the 21-year study period, the rates of ingestion of these products increased significantly.
"Our study underscores the need for further research and continued efforts to prevent such ingestions, particularly within the home environment, where FBIs most commonly occur," the authors write.
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