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| An example of how a button battery becomes lodged in the esophagus. |
It’s important for everyone to understand the dangers that
button batteries pose to young children so let’s start with the basics. Button
batteries (aka disc batteries), are 8-23 mm in diameter and are found in a
variety of household products such as hearing aids and handheld devices. But
they are also found in many toys that children receive during the holidays.
Because of their common presence in the home and due to their small size, there
is a risk that button batteries may be swallowed by children. (The majority of
button battery ingestions involve children 0-5 years in age.)
These batteries pose a danger when they get stuck in the
esophagus, leading to serious injury and in rare cases, death. Once lodged, the
chemicals in the battery start burning the surrounding tissue. Poison control
centers across the United States report that about 3,500 button batteries are
swallowed each year. In Texas alone, there have been over 2,200 cases since
2000.
If a button battery is ingested, symptoms can include vomiting,
abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and swallowing. Many
times, swallowed batteries pass through the intestines and safely exit the
body. However in some cases, they can easily get lodged in the esophagus and
cause serious damage. It is best to keep button batteries up, away and out of
reach of children. Parents should also secure the battery compartments of
products in which button batteries are used and never leave batteries lying
around loose or allow children to play with them.
If your child ingests a battery, you should immediately call
a poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
Dial 9-1-1 immediately if someone:
•Stops breathing.
•Collapses.
•Has a seizure.
And remember to never induce vomiting. For more information,
call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
Poison centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the
year for poisoning emergencies and for informational calls, too.
