Foreign Bodies in the Upper Aerodigestive Tract of Nigerian Children

Abstract

Aim/Background
This is an audit of number, nature, sites of impaction and methods of removals and treatment outcome of upper aero-digestive foreign bodies among children in an urban University hospital in Nigeria.
Patients and Methods
This is an 8year retrospective review of foreign body in upper aero-dgestive tract of children (January 2001 to December 2007) was conducted at the ENT department of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Case notes of the patients were retrieved and the following were data extracted: demographic, clinical, operative and outpatient visits outcome.
Results
81 children aged 9months to 16years were seen (mean 4.28, SD 2.95) with 49 males and 32 females and a male: female ratio of 1.5: 1.0.The commonest age group was 9months to 4years (76.5%). Most common of impaction sites were nasal cavity in 31 cases (38.3%), oesophagus in 23 cases (28.4%), oropharynx in 16 (19.8%) and larynx in 6 (7.4%)).The commonest FBs was coins in 33 (40.7 %) in the oesophagus and 37.5% of pharyngeal FBs .Inanimate FBs in the nose constituted 31(38.3%) [Non vegetative 27(87.1%), vegetative 4(12.9 %)]. Fish bones were seen in 11 cases (13.6%) [6 in the larynx and 5 around the tonsillar fauces] and miscellaneous objects in 6 cases. Conclusion
Upper aero-digestive foreign bodies are common especially among the under fours', commonest sites being the nose and pharyngooesophageal region with coins and inanimate FBs constituting about four-fifth. There is the need for parental health education on object placements, and a high index of suspicion among practitioners to facilitate early referral and avoid preventable complications.

Key Words : Upper aero-digestive, children, inanimate, coins, nose, Oesophagus