Patient's question:
A 6-year-old child accidentally swallowed a 3-centimeter-long keychain with the thickness of noodles. What should be done?Previous treatment history and effectiveness: The child did not go to the hospital. It has been ten days so far. In terms of diet, they have been eating more vegetables, such as chives and wood ear mushrooms. They have had seven bowel movements, but the keychain has not been found, and there are no other discomfort symptoms. Should we continue to monitor the situation? If it cannot be passed out, will it damage internal organs? How should it be handled? Thank you!
Doctor's answer:
From your description, it's likely that the keychain swallowed by the child has already passed out, but it hasn't been noticed yet. Unless the child's every bowel movement is dislodged, and still no one notices the keychain, then it should be considered that the keychain is still in the stomach. How can you be sure to clearly see that the child swallowed the keychain? Did the child admit to swallowing it? Or did the keychain go missing, and everyone believes it was swallowed by the child? It is recommended to take an abdominal X-ray or undergo an X-ray scan for the child to confirm whether the keychain is still in the stomach. If not, you can rest assured.