ABSTRACT
Objectives: To describe the occurrence, clinical presentation
and management, of pediatric nasal foreign bodies, and to assess various
risk factors for complications.
Design: A retrospective analysis of a computerized patient
directory of 562 children admitted to the emergency department during a
10-year period, with a nasal foreign body.
Settings: A tertiary pediatric hospital.
Results: Upon admittance, most of the children (82%) were
asymptomatic. Among the symptomatic children (18%), the primary
symptoms were nasal discharge (10%), epistaxis (8%) and pain (4%).
Younger children (under 4 years) were more likely to insert organic
materials, compared to older children. Younger children were also
admitted sooner to the emergency department and were more likely to
present with nasal discharge. The overall complication rate was 5%.
None of the children had aspirated the foreign body. Complications
included infection (2%), necrosis (0.7%), septal perforation (0.5%),
deep mucosal laceration (1.5%) and loss of foreign body (1.9%).
Significantly higher rates of symptoms and complications were associated
with button batteries. Increased risk for complications were observed
according to type of foreign body, multiple attempts to remove it,
posterior insertion and left-side insertion.
Conclusions: Nasal foreign bodies in children are common.
Mostly, patients are asymptomatic, therefore a high index of suspicion
is required, for quick diagnosis and safe removal, without
complications.