It’s a ‘race against time’ after kids swallow button batteries, researchers warn

Severe injuries can occur in as little as two hours after kids swallow a button battery, Australian researchers have found.

Button batteries are commonly used to power toys, watches, remote controls and hearing aids.

After reviewing 217 studies from around the world involving 439 instances of a child ingesting a button battery, the researchers concluded that both severe injuries and complications can occur in less than six hours.

Choking, coughing and difficulty eating were common early symptoms. “However, over time these symptoms change (e.g., vomiting, drooling) and may be mistaken for other health issues such as gastroenteritis or a respiratory infection,” the researchers say.

More than a quarter of the injuries (26%) were burns to the child’s esophagus. In severe cases, according to the researchers, burning can also result in the creation of a hole in a major vein or artery, causing a fatal loss of blood. “Nearly 9% of all the complication cases of ingestion resulted in death, and the most common factor was bleeding.”

The group most at risk were kids younger than 2 who ingested button batteries 0.8 inches in diameter or more. The kids who didn’t have the battery removed within six hours were almost eight times more likely to die.

“Once a child has swallowed a button battery, it becomes a race against time since injury can occur within a couple of hours,” said lead study author Carlos Nunez, from the Australian Pediatric Surveillance Unit at the University of Sydney. “Often battery ingestion or insertion is not witnessed by adults.”

The researchers say parents and caregivers must be aware of the potential danger of button batteries and should safely store them out of reach of kids. Also, when the batteries no long work, properly dispose of them.

The study was published the World Journal of Pediatrics.