Foreign body ingestion in Pediatrics: case report on clinical follow-up

Abstract

The current study presents a case report and a case report of a 2-year-old child who accidentally ingested a screw, with the aim of highlighting the challenges and best practices for managing foreign body ingestion in pediatrics. Accidental ingestion of objects is common in children, who, while exploring their environment, become vulnerable to such incidents. The objective of the study was to report the case and deepen the understanding of monitoring and intervention strategies in asymptomatic pediatric cases of foreign body ingestion. The methodology included the analysis of 11 articles selected from the UpToDate, PubMed, and Scielo databases, along with the clinical follow-up of the child from initial care to the spontaneous elimination of the object. X-rays were periodically performed to monitor the progress and location of the screw, which was naturally expelled on the 15th day, which avoided the need for planned surgery. The results indicated that most cases of accidental ingestion can be managed conservatively by focusing on clinical observation. It is concluded that, in addition to standardizing care protocols, it is essential to educate parents and caregivers about the risks of foreign body ingestion, considering the children's age characteristics, which can significantly contribute to prevention and the effectiveness of clinical interventions.