Great Ormond Street Hospital report shows number of children swallowing batteries is rising


  • Batteries are choking hazard and can burn a hole through the oesophagus 
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital reported increase in number of children admitted as a result of swallowing a battery
  • At least one child a month treated at GOSH and two died in Manchester 

Daily Mail Reporter

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Children’s hospital Great Ormond Street is treating one child a month for swallowing the batteries above

Doctors are warning parents about the risk button batteries pose to young children, after an alarming increase in hospital admissions.

As well as being a choking hazard, the batteries can burn a hole through the lining of the oesophagus – which can result in patients bleeding to death. 

London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital has reported a significant increase in the number of children admitted as a result of swallowing a battery.

The hospital said it treats an average of one child a month for the problem. And at least two children in Manchester have died as a result of swallowing batteries.

A new slimmer type of battery, which is roughly the size of a 10p coin, can easily get stuck in a child’s throat, doctors say. And when a battery gets lodged in the oesophagus, an electrical current can occur once it comes in contact with the throat’s lining, which can cause severe burns.

Dr Katie Parkins, a consultant for the Paediatric Intensive Care Transport Service, said: ‘Children under six years are most at risk but severe injury can happen to any age group.’

A new slimmer type of battery, which is roughly the size of a 10p coin, can easily get stuck in a child’s throat

  • An earlier version of this article carried incorrect images. We were contacted by GOSH and have updated our article.

 

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