Unusual aero-digestive foreign bodies: Tribulations and tragedies

Aero-digestive foreign bodies are a common occurrence in infants and children. The manifestations, hazards and consequences depend upon the location, nature of the foreign body and the time lapse. This communication reports a series of four cases with unusual course and consequences of aero-digestive foreign bodies. These were generalized tetanus, hypernatremia and metabolic acidosis with intracranial, hemorrhage and severe pneumonia and empyema. Awareness of these consequences would help treating doctors to take appropriate steps in devising preventive and therapeutic strategies. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.