5 year old girl hospitalized after swallowing hair clip

(Dan Tri) - The accident happened when NMA (5 years old, Phu Tho) was in class. During playtime, the child was sucking on a hairpin and accidentally swallowed it.

On September 19, Phu Tho Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital informed about a case of a child with a foreign object, a hairpin, stuck in the esophagus. Doctors performed an endoscopy to safely remove the foreign object.

Previously, on September 16, the girl was taken to Phu Tho Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for emergency treatment, with a sore throat. The patient's family said that about an hour before being admitted to the hospital, the child was playing in class, sucked on a hairpin and accidentally swallowed it. The child was taken to a medical facility near the school, then quickly transferred to another hospital when a foreign object was discovered.

X-ray images showed the child had a foreign object stuck deep in the esophagus. Doctors performed a rigid endoscopy and removed the object.

X-ray image shows foreign object stuck in esophagus (Photo: Provided by Hospital).

Dr. Be Thi Minh Quynh, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, said that the foreign object removed was a plastic hairpin with many edges. With sharp foreign objects, if not handled properly, the foreign object can cause mucosal tears, bleeding, and even esophageal perforation. Therefore, this procedure requires a team of experts to coordinate closely to ensure maximum safety for the child patient.

Foreign object stuck in child's esophagus was safely removed (Photo: Provided by the hospital).

Up to now, 3 days after the procedure, the child is awake, can eat cold, soft food and is expected to be discharged from the hospital.

Dr. Quynh said that foreign bodies in the digestive tract of children are quite common, especially with small objects such as hairpins, coins, button batteries, etc.

When stuck, they can cause symptoms ranging from mild (sore throat, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation) to severe (vomiting, chest pain, difficulty breathing). If not detected and treated promptly, foreign objects can cause ulcers, inflammation, and even perforation of the esophagus, serious complications that can threaten the child's life.

Therefore, parents need to keep an eye on their children, not let them play with small toys, teach them not to put small objects, toys, batteries... into their mouths. When children choke on foreign objects, absolutely do not intervene by arbitrarily inserting a stick into their throat, giving them more food or drink, or applying folk remedies.

"Incorrect handling can cause the foreign object to get stuck deeper, causing more serious damage. The safest solution is to quickly take the child to the nearest medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment," Dr. Quynh advised.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nuot-phai-kep-toc-be-gai-5-tuoi-nhap-vien-cap-cuu-20250919171602924.htm