title: [Emergency department consultations due to foreign body ingestion].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foreign body (FB) ingestion is an uncommon reason for going to the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of foreign body ingestion and the management of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study, including children under 14 years old with suspected foreign body ingestion seen in the PED between 2010 and 2013. An analysis was made of the circumstances of the FB ingestion, its management in the PED, and patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 226,666 presentations recorded, 1,608 (0.7%) were for a FB, 970 corresponding to ingestion of mainly fish bones (367, 38.7%) and coins (181, 18.7%), except in children under 1 year (plastic objects). The median age was 4.7 years, with boys being more common in those older than 4 years (58.5%). A total of 557 patients (57.3%) reported some symptom, and complementary tests were performed in 414 (42.7%). Another specialist was called in 315 (32.4%) cases, mainly from Ear, Nose and Throat (fish bones) or Surgery (coins). The FB was removed in 305 (31.4%) cases, which were mostly fish bones or sunflower seeds. Seventy-one patients (7.3%) were admitted, especially ingestion of fish bones or coins. No patient died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingestion of fish bones or coins by young children is a relatively common presentation in the PED, and it is associated with frequent medical interventions. Although the overall prognosis is good, and improving the health education of the population should be considered to reduce the frequency of these episodes.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobeiras
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: Amaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zugazabeitia
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uribarri
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España. Electronic address: santiago.mintegi@osakidetza.eus.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mintegi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Coins; Cuerpo extraño; Espinas de pescado; Fish bone; Foreign bodies; Ingestion; Ingestión; Monedas