Foreign Bodies

If you've had a splinter, sand in your eye, or a bead stuck in a child's ear, you've dealt with a "foreign body" — something stuck somewhere in your body that shouldn't be there. Foreign bodies can be inhaled, swallowed, or come from an injury to almost any part of the body. They are more common in small children, who put things in their mouths, ears, and noses.

Some foreign bodies — a small splinter, a mild scratch on the eye — cause little harm and can be dealt with at home. Others need medical attention:

• Inhaled: sudden choking, coughing, or difficulty breathing after a child has been playing with small objects or eating peanuts/nuts. This is a medical emergency — go to hospital or dial 112.
• Swallowed: button batteries, magnets, or sharp objects need urgent medical care even if the child seems fine. Button batteries can cause serious damage within hours.
• In the eye: do not rub the eye; flush with clean water. If the object is embedded or vision is affected, see a doctor.
• In the ear or nose of a young child: do not try to dig it out — this usually pushes it in further. Take the child to a doctor.