Observational Study of Foreign Bodies in Digestive Tract

Abstract

Background: Parent‘s laxness and lack of attention by leaving small objects at the reach of children contributes to this high incidence of foreign bodies. Ears, noses and throats are the most exposed orifices, hence the incidence of foreign bodies is also high in them. Problem of dealing with aspirated foreign body either swallowed or aspirated are since antiquity. In such cases, no definitive treatment was available and hence, the morbidity and mortality were very high. Aim: To determine the incidence of foreign bodies in the upper aerodigestive tracts according to the age and sex among patients attending ENT department at TMH. Material and methods: This Prospective study was carried out in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, R. G. Kar Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal. Results: Complications after FB ingestion or removal are higher in lower SES group. Lower SES – 19/72(26.7%) while high SES with 10/68(14%). There were statistically no significant difference among the patients according to their Complications when compared with their SES although the percentage of lower status group are more than higher, with p – value=0.5533 {p >0.05}. Conclusion: Adults have more predilections for digestive tract foreign bodies which is mainly because of dietary habits and hasty eating.