Nasal Foreign Bodies: What Parents Need to Know
Learn about nasal foreign bodies in children, including common objects, symptoms, and when to seek medical attention.
Nasal foreign bodies are usually encountered in children. However, occasionally they may occur in adults with mental retardation or psychiatric illness.
Foreign bodies may be inorganic material such as plastic or metal. Examples include small parts of toys or even beads. Organic foreign bodies include wood, sponge, and food. They tend to irritate the nasal mucosa more and lead to earlier symptoms. Peas, beans, and nuts are among the more common organic foreign bodies.
Males are more likely to insert foreign objects into their nose. The average patient age is usually about 3 years.
Symptoms and Risks
Bleeding is commonly reported in patients with nasal foreign bodies. The foreign body itself may cause irritation to the lining, mucosal damage, and sometimes extension into adjacent structures. It can lead to septal perforation and cartilage necrosis.
Unilateral foul-smelling nasal drainage in a child is a foreign body until proved otherwise. A persistent foreign body can lead to sinusitis due to obstruction of the drainage pathways.
Button batteries are very destructive and need to be removed within hours if possible to prevent chemical burns, ulceration, and severe damage within the nasal cavities.