[Foreign body aspiration in children: ten-years experience at the Ha'Emek Medical Center].

INTRODUCTION

Foreign body aspiration is common in young children. Delay in treatment may lead to complications and an emergency bronchoscopy must be performed in suspicious cases. Prevention is the most critical element needed to reduce this morbidity.

PURPOSE

To examine the demographic data of children at high risk of foreign body aspiration in order to develop precautionary measures oriented to this population.

METHODS

A retrospective review was prepared of all the charts of children under 16 years old who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration in Ha'Emek Medical Center during the period 1994-2004.

RESULTS

The review presented a total of 136 children who had undergone bronchoscopy. Foreign bodies were found in 73% of the cases. Two thirds of the patients were male and two thirds were children less then two years old. The incidence of bronchoscopies that were positive for foreign bodies was higher in children less then two years old (82.6%) compared with older children (57.1%), p = 0.001. The incidence of Arab children was higher when compared to Jewish children and significantly higher than their percentage in the general child population (p = 0.001). The rate of bronchoscopies was 11 procedures per 100,000 children per year. In the majority of cases food was aspirated (82%) especially nuts and seeds.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that children under the age of two years, male children and Arab children were at the highest risk of foreign body aspiration. Nuts and seeds are particularly dangerous and it is recommended to prevent young children from eating them. Well-defined public education programs should achieve prevention.