Abstract
Introduction and importance
Esophageal foreign body mostly occurs in children aged 6 months to 5 years old. In neonates (babies less than 28 days old), such report is extremely rare. In this case, we report the first esophageal foreign body in neonates without any symptoms.
Case presentation
A 28-day-old baby boy, with normal body weight, from a low socio-economic status family, came to us with a history of ingested foreign body. No sign of unconsciousness, excessive saliva, dysphagia, and respiratory distress. The chest X-ray revealed a radiopaque foreign body in the upper third of the esophagus. The patient underwent extraction of the foreign body using a flexible endoscope under general anesthesia. We found a 1.9 cm in diameter pendant with no sign of bleeding nor inflammation in the esophageal lumen. After the foreign body removal, the patient is in good condition and recovered uneventfully.
Clinical discussion
Foreign body in children under 6 months old is very rare. A high index of suspicion for foreign body ingestion must be considered in unattended children from lower socio-economic status, primarily if witness statements are present and confirmed with radiological examination. Most common impaction site is at the level of the cricopharyngeus muscle. Currently, flexible endoscopy is the standard for foreign body removal in children.
Conclusion
High index suspiciousness, witness statements and radiological examination are the important points in diagnosing ingested foreign body in neonates. Clinicians are required to provide education to parents to supervise their children when playing together.
Esophageal foreign body extremely rare in neonates
Most common without symptoms due to the diet consists of full fluids
Witness statements and radiological examination are an important point in diagnosis.
The impaction of foreign body is strong indication for foreign body removal.
Flexible endoscopy is the standard for foreign body removal in children.
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