Esophageal foreign body: a case presentation.

A case report is presented of a 10-month-old child with a 1-month history of respiratory symptoms, followed by 3 to 4 days of fever, progressing to poor feeding, vomiting, and weight loss. The child is cared for by his mentally disabled young parents. A chest radiograph revealed a metallic foreign body obstructing the proximal esophagus. Esophagoscopy and removal of a penny resulted in immediate resolution of the acute gastrointestinal symptoms; the respiratory symptoms resolved shortly thereafter. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in the management of pediatric aerodigestive foreign bodies are discussed. High-risk parenting, such as in this case, is a risk factor for pediatric foreign-body ingestion.