title: Nasal foreign bodies: description of types and complications in 420 cases.
abstract: Nasal cavities foreign bodies are common accidents in children, sometimes leading, in accordance with the literature, to complications such as epistaxis and bronchoaspiration. Diagnosis is often made with anterior rhinoscopy, but sometimes nasal fibroendoscopy and imaging may be useful.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate 420 cases of nasal foreign bodies removed in ENT Service of Souza Aguiar Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, as related to sex, age, type of foreign body and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  420 cases of nasal foreign bodies removed in the ENT service of Souza Aguiar Hospital between December 1992 and December 1998 were evaluated according to the parameters related above.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found higher incidence between 0 and 4 years of age, and the most frequently found foreign bodies were foam fragments, plastic pieces of little toys, beans and paper fragments. Complications occurred in 9.05% of the cases, epistaxis and vestibulitis being the commonest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal foreign bodies are especially found between the ages of 0 and 4 years. In our study, foam fragments and small plastic objects were the most frequent foreign bodies found. Complications were found in 9.05% of the cases, headed by epistaxis and nasal vestibulitis.
authors.affiliation: HUCFF, UFRJ, Brazil. rfigueiredo@otosul.com.br
authors.forename: Ricardo Rodrigues
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Andréia A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Arthur Octávio de Avila
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Kós
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D013997:Time Factors