Not All Foreign Bodies of Upper Digestive Tract Are Accidental

Abstract

To give the message that a sharp foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract in a female child is to be seen with caution as it could be a case of infanticidal attempt. CASE REPORT: A two and half month old baby presented with history of refusal of feeds for one day of sudden onset and was irritable. X ray neck revealed two pieces of radio-opaque razor blades in the region of cricopharynx and proximal oesophagus. They were retrieved immediately by performing rigid oesophagoscopy with minimal mucosal tears. CONCLUSION: In developing countries where female infanticide rates are high, any sharp foreign bodies in upper digestive tract could be a case of infanticide and early removal is the key to prevent serious life threatening complications.