Subgroup Analysis According to Age
The younger age-group, age <4 years, comprised 328 patients, representing 58% of the cohort. The older age-group, age> 4 years, comprised 237 patients, representing 42% of the cohort. No differences were found between these age-groups in the male-to-female ratio; or in the proportions with comorbidities, anterior versus posterior insertions, right-side versus left-side insertions, or treatment with antibiotics (Table 3). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the nature of the NFB. In children under age 4 years, 39% of NFB were organic, compared to only 19% in older children (OR=2.75, p<0.001). Younger patients were also more likely to insert NFB into the right nostril (OR=1.43, p=0.04). In older children, magnets and buttons were more common (OR=3.3, p=0.03), as well as non-organic substances, although not significant., as were magnets and buttons, Older patients were admitted earlier to the ED, within the first 24 hours (OR=1.9, p=0.03). Other differences, without statistical significance, were observed between the age groups (Table 3 and Figure 1). Younger compared to older children were more likely to present with nasal discharge (14% vs 8%) and were less likely to undergo general anesthesia (2.8% vs 5.5%). Characteristics of the patients according to age group are presented in table 3 and in figure 1.