A number of signs and symptoms may indicate the presence of an esophageal foreign body swallowed by a child.
Issues:
(1) location of the foreign body in the esophagus
(2) nature of the foreign body (blunt, sharp, disk battery, etc)
Alarm findings:
(1) abrupt onset of refusal of oral intake
(2) difficult or painful swallowing
(3) sudden onset of upper GI bleeding
(4) retrosternal chest pain
(5) drooling
(6) airway obstruction
(7) wheezing or stridor AND no evidence of a viral respiratory infection
(8) unexplained retching
The child may also have a history of swallowing foreign bodies.
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
