title: Nasal foreign bodies: Results of a study of 260 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Insertion of a foreign body in the nasal cavity is a very common incident in children. It is easily diagnosed, but the type of foreign body varies and extraction can sometimes be difficult, with risk of complications. The present study reports nasal foreign bodies seen in emergency in our ENT department, with an update on the state of knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study between May and August 2011 included all patients admitted to the ENT emergency unit for nasal foreign body. Data comprised age, gender, circumstances of discovery, symptoms, type of foreign body, extraction method and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and sixty cases of nasal foreign body were included, representing 4.3% of all consultations in the unit. Mean age was 3 years (range: 1-16 years); the sex ratio was 1.4 (male predominance). The incident was reported by a family member or the actual child in 76.9% of cases (n=199), or discovered following nasal symptoms in 23.1% (n=61). The main types of foreign body were non-organic synthetic beads in 18.8% of cases and vegetable forms in 17.7%. Extraction was easy, using forceps, micro-hooks or suction, in 91.53% of cases. Complications comprised infection (n=48), epistaxis (n=18) and nasal septum perforation (n=1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal foreign bodies are a frequent accident in medical practice, especially in young children. They are generally harmless, but may incur complications if overlooked or when a button cell is involved, whence the importance of timely extraction. The best treatment, however, remains prevention.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital 20-Août, CHU Ibn Rochd, 6, rue Lahssen Elaarjoun, Casablanca, Morocco. Electronic address: dr_abouelfadl_m@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abou-Elfadl
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital 20-Août, CHU Ibn Rochd, 6, rue Lahssen Elaarjoun, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horra
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital 20-Août, CHU Ibn Rochd, 6, rue Lahssen Elaarjoun, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: R-L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Abada
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital 20-Août, CHU Ibn Rochd, 6, rue Lahssen Elaarjoun, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahtar
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital 20-Août, CHU Ibn Rochd, 6, rue Lahssen Elaarjoun, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roubal
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital 20-Août, CHU Ibn Rochd, 6, rue Lahssen Elaarjoun, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kadiri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Button cell; Child; Nasal foreign body; Nasal obstruction; Perforation; Purulent rhinorrhea; Vegetable