The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Foreign Body Ingestion Trends in Children: A Comparison of the Pre-Pandemic Period to 2020

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion (FBI) among children is associated with morbidity and mortality. We used the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to compare FBI trends from 2017-2019 to 2020 during the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The pandemic and associated stay-at-home orders were associated with uptrends in button battery and magnet ingestions but unchanged total FBI trends.

Characteristics of unintentional childhood injury during COVID-19: a single-center comparative study

“…The association between the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing trends in pediatric foreign body ingestion has been witnessed nationally and internationally. Before the pandemic, the main age of foreign body occurrence was toddler (58.64%), and the main age of foreign body occurrence during the pandemic was also toddler (53.78%), which is consistent with the results reported by multiple clinical studies (18)(19)(20). No matter before or during the pandemic, for children aged 1-18 years, with the increase of age and the improvement of safety awareness, the number of foreign bodies is significantly reduced.…”

Chevalier Jackson, the Small Part Test Fixture Tube, the 10th Circuit Court and COVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Foreign Body Ingestions in the United States

“…While access to magnets and rate of magnet ingestions have ebbed and flowed in response to regulatory action, morbidity, and mortality of button battery ingestions in the United States has steadily climbed (11,12) with limited regulations. Similar to the impact of the pandemic on magnet ingestions reported by Shaul et al (6), Geibel et al (13), in the current issue also report a concerning increase in magnet and button battery ingestions during this period. In addition, the authors found a statistically significant increase in foreign body ingestions in patients between 6 and 10 years of age during the COVID pandemic, one of the age groups most impacted by stay at home orders, compared to pre-pandemic rates, and an increase of ingestions occurring at home compared to school.…”

How is the COVID-19 pandemic related to ingestion and aspiration of foreign bodies among children – single-institution experience

“…Some authors observed a rise in button battery ingestions [9,12,16,18]; however, that was not observed in our institution. Our study found [9,16] an increasing presence of magnetic objects in children in this period (p = 0.0038).…”

“…Some authors observed a rise in button battery ingestions [9,12,16,18]; however, that was not observed in our institution. Our study found [9,16] an increasing presence of magnetic objects in children in this period (p = 0.0038). Especially for magnetic balls, there is higher risk of perforation and need for a much more serious intervention [19].…”

“…There is limited literature in the topic of foreign bodies in children during COVID-19. As we presented a history of 236 children, most of the studies contributed less than 100 patients [10,12,13], some of them being case reports [14, 15] and others using national electronic databases [16].…”