To study the characteristic of children who have had foreign body ingestion, medical records of 104 patients admitted at the Philippine General Hospital from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 1995 were reviewed. The age of the subjects range from 6 months to 17 years with an average of 4 years and 7 months. There were 57 (54.8 percent females. More than half of the patients (57.7 percent) came from outside Metro Manila In 83 patients (71.81 percent), the object ingested was a coin. Common symptoms were dysphagia, vomiting, and increased salivation. Presenting signs were tachycardia and tachypnea The foreign body was found in the esophagus in almost all cases and was removed through an esophagoscope. Only one patient, who developed alkali burns of the esophagus after ingesting a lithium batter, had a complication. The duration of hospital stay ranged from 1 to 20 days with a mean of 2.13 days In conclusion, children under 5 years old are at greatest risk of foreign body ingestion, with coins as the most common cause. With a good history, the patients signs and symptoms help the physician establish the diagnosis but esophagoscopic findings are conclusive and removal of the foreign body through the esophagoscope, therapeutic.

Acta Medica Philippina, 1999 35 (3 & 4) pages 25-31