Pediatric Battery-Related Emergency Department Visits in the United States: 2010-2019

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of battery-related emergency department (ED) visits among children aged <18 years in the United States from 2010 to 2019 and compare with previous study findings. METHODS: Data on ED visits were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Using narrative descriptions and diagnosis codes, battery-related cases were coded into four exposure routes: (1) ingestion, (2) mouth exposure, (3) ear insertion, and (4) nasal insertion. RESULTS: An estimated 70322 (95% confidence interval: 51275-89369) battery-related ED visits among children aged <18 years occurred during the study period, or 9.5 per 100000 children annually. Button batteries were implicated in 84.7% of visits where battery type was described. A statistically significant increase in the ED visit rate occurred from 2010 to 2017 (P = .03), followed by a nonstatistically significant decrease from 2017 to 2019. The ED visit rate was highest among children aged <= 5 years compared with those 6 to 17 years (24.5 and 2.2 per 100000 children, respectively). The mean patient age was 3.2 years (95% confidence interval: 2.9-3.4). Ingestions accounted for 90.0% of ED visits, followed by nasal insertions (5.7%), ear insertions (2.5%), and mouth exposures (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric battery-related ED visit rates continued to significantly increase from 2010 to 2017, with children aged <= 5 years having the highest rates. Prevention efforts have not significantly reduced injury rates; therefore, regulatory efforts are needed. Ultimately, hazard reduction or elimination through safer button battery design is critical and should be adopted by the battery industry.