Foreign body and caustic substance ingestion in childhood are common and require accurate and timely diagnosis to provide appropriate management consistent with the ingested substance/foreign body and clinical presentation as well as the associated risk status to prevent significant complications and morbidity. The aim of this paper was to present foreign body and caustic ingestion in childhood in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up and appropriate management and potential complications in accordance with clinical presentation and the type of ingested substance/foreign body.

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is associated with a complex disease process in children, and its management remains controversial. There are a few published studies on PSD in the paediatric literature; therefore, we present our experience of conservatively treating PSD in children. This study involved a retrospective review with telephone follow up. All children diagnosed with PSD in 2012 to 2017 were identified at the outpatient clinic of the Department of Paediatric Surgery. All patients initially underwent conservative treatment (meticulous hair removal, improved perianal hygiene, warm sitz baths, and drainage for abscess). Data collection included demographics, type of management, recurrence, presence of infection, and total healing time. In the study period, 29 children were identified. Their mean age was 14.94 ± 1.09 (range: 12-16) years, and 51.7% were girls. The mean length of follow up was 8.34 ± 6.36 (range: 1-25) months. Complete healing occurred in 79.3% of patients. Recurrence was evident in 12% of patients. Four patients underwent surgery. PSD is being seen in children more frequently in recent years. Conservative treatment may be the recommended initial approach for PSD in children.

Pulmonary hydatid disease is usually symptomatic. Hydatid disease must be considered in differential diagnosis while evaluating thoracic lesions in endemic areas.

Objective To present the clinical profile and outcomes of esophageal button battery ingestion cases treated at our institution over an 8-year period. Methods A total of 17 children who presented after ingesting a button battery and were treated at a tertiary care clinic over an 8-year period were included in this retrospective case series study. Data on patient demographics and esophageal location of the battery, time from ingestion to admission, symptoms, grade of mucosal injury, size of the battery, management, complications, and follow-up outcome were recorded. Results Median age was 29 months (range, 2–99 months). Boys comprised (n=11, 64.7%) of the study population. The most common location was the proximal esophagus (n=10, 58.8%). The median time from ingestion to admission was 6 h (range, 3–24 h). Hypersalivation alone (n=6, 35.3%) or together with vomiting (n=5, 29.4%) was the most common symptom. Grade IIA mucosal injury was noted in six (n=6, 35.3%) patients. The diameter of the battery was a median of 18.0 mm (range, 14–22 mm). We did not observe any correlation between the size of the battery and the grade of the injury. Early postoperative complications were encountered in one patient (n=1, 5.8%) and late postoperative complications were noted in eight patients (n=8, 47.1%) which required further esophageal dilatations, and follow-up revealed normal findings in eight patients (n=8, 47.1%) and mortality occurred in one patient. Conclusion The current case series study describing the clinical profiles and outcomes of 17 children who had ingested an esophageal button battery revealed male predominance, young patient age, and admission after a median of 6 h (3–24 h) of ingestion with nonspecific symptoms. Our findings confirm the success of rigid endoscopy to remove esophageal button batteries and indicate the likelihood of severe complications after removal.

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