Disk battery ingestion mimicking acute tonsillitis in a Nigerian child: A case report

Abstract

There is a rising incidence of disc battery ingestion in children. This is due to their increased use in electronic devices (including toys) commonly found in the home setting. Children below the age of 6 years are mostly affected with peak incidence in the ages of 1 to 3 years. Although most disk batteries when ingested pass through the gastro intestinal tract harmlessly, they may be lodged in the oesophagus causing significant destructive injury within 4-6 hours of impaction due to their corrosive nature. Impaction of foreign bodies may present with specific symptoms, non specific symptoms or may be asymptomatic. We present an 11 month old child in whom an ingested disc battery had been lodged in the oesophagus for 6 days prior to retrieval by rigid endoscopy. The presence of a clinical history examination findings supporting a diagnosis of acute tonsillitis was misleading, causing regrettable delays in the diagnosis and management of this child, who subsequently developed a tracheoesophageal fistula. A high index of suspicion by clinicians is needed especially in the non verbal child for early identification and to prevent complications. Increased awareness by parents and other care givers of the hidden dangers of these innocuous looking batteries in homes and legislation directing the need for child safety locks on disk battery compartments of electronic gadgets and toys will help in reducing the incidence of battery ingestion cases in children.