Swallowed Foreign Body – What does it mean?
Swallowed foreign body means that you swallow something and it gets stuck. It might be food or something else. The object may get stuck in the tube that connects your throat to your stomach (esophagus), or it may get stuck in another part of your belly (digestive tract).
It is very important to tell your doctor what you have swallowed.
Sometimes, the object will pass through your body on its own. Sometimes, the object will pass after you are given a medicine to relax your throat. The object may need to be taken out by a doctor if it is dangerous or if it will not pass through your body on its own. An object may need to be removed with surgery if:
- It gets stuck in your throat.
- You cannot swallow.
- You cannot breathe well.
- It is sharp.
- It is harmful or poisonous (toxic), like batteries or drugs.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Eat what you normally eat if your doctor says that you can.
- Keep checking your poop (stool) to see if the object has come out of your body.
- Call your doctor if the object has not come out of your body after 3 days.
If you had surgery (endoscopy) to remove the object:
- Care for yourself after surgery as told by your doctor.
Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.
Contact a doctor if:
- You still have problems after you have been treated.
- The object has not come out of your body after 3 days.
Get help right away if:
- You have a fever.
- You have pain in your chest or your belly.
- You cough up blood.
- You have blood in your poop or your throw up (vomit).
Swallowed Foreign Body in Children
A swallowed foreign body means that your child swallows something and it gets stuck. It might be food or something else. The object may get stuck in the tube that connects the throat to the stomach (esophagus), or it may get stuck in another part of the belly (digestive tract).
It is very important to tell your child’s doctor what your child swallowed. Sometimes, the object will pass through your child’s body on its own. Your child’s doctor may need to take out (remove) the object if it is dangerous or if it will not pass through your child’s body on its own. An object may need to be taken out with surgery if:
- It gets stuck in your child’s throat.
- It is sharp.
- It is harmful or poisonous (toxic), such as batteries and magnets.
- Your child cannot swallow.
- Your child cannot breathe well.
Follow these instructions at home:
If your child’s doctor thinks that the object will come out on its own:
- Feed your child what he or she normally eats if your child’s doctor says that this is safe.
- Keep checking your child’s poop (stool) to see if the object has come out of your child’s body (has passed).
- Call your child’s doctor if the object has not come out after 3 days.
If your child had surgery to have the object taken out:
- Care for your child after surgery as told by your child’s doctor.
Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s doctor. This is important.
Contact a doctor if:
- The object has not come out of your child’s body after 3 days.
- Your child still has problems after he or she has been treated.
Get help right away if:
- Your child has noisy breathing (wheezing) or has trouble breathing.
- Your child has chest pain or coughing.
- Your child cannot eat or drink.
- Your child is drooling a lot.
- Your child has belly pain, or he or she throws up (vomits).
- Your child has bloody poop.
- Your child is choking.
- Your child’s skin looks blue or gray.
- Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher.
