Foreign Bodies in the Ear Nose and Throat in Children: Experience of a Tertiary Hospital

ABS TRACT Objective: Foreign bodies (FB) in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) are frequently encountered in pediatric emergency services and polyclinics.The aim of this study is to examine the clinical features and approach methods of patients who applied to the pediatric emergency department with the complaint of FBs in the ENT.Material and Methods: The files of the patients who applied to the pediatric emergency outpatient clinic and were consulted due to FBs from the ENT clinic were retrospectively analyzed.Demographic data, diagnostic examinations, type of FB, localization and treatment methods of 301 patients with FB in the ENT were recorded.The patients were divided into three groups as 0-5, 6-11 and 12-17 years old, and the findings were analyzed.Results: The median age of the patients was 3.0 (2.0-5.0) years and 134 (44.5%) were female and 167 (55.5%) were male.It was determined that 239 (79.4%) of the patients were 0-5 years old, 40 (13.3%) were 6-11 years old and 22 (7.3%) were 12-17 years old.In patients aged 0-5 years, the most common nasal FB [184 (61.1%) patients] was observed, while in patients aged 6-11 and 12-17 years, FBs in the ear [respectively; 23 (7.6%) patients and 15 (5.0%) patients] were found to be more common.Of the FBs removed from the patients, 194 (64.5%) were composed of inorganic [most common beads (29.2%)] and 107 (35.5%) organic materials [most common sunflower seed shell (8.0 %)].In 9 (3.0%) cases FB was removed under general anesthesia.Conclusion: FBs are frequently seen between the ages of 0-5 and in the nose.By informing parents and caregivers, unwanted complications and applications to pediatric emergency services will decrease.