STUDY TO KNOW THE MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF FOREIGN BODY ASPIRATION IN CHILDREN

Objective: To investigate the clinical presentation, management and outcome of foreign body aspiration in children. Study Design: A case Series. Place and Duration: In the Pediatrics Unit II of Mayo Hospital, Lahore for one year duration from January 2018 to December 2018. Methods: During the study period, 50 patients presented with suspicion of foreign body aspiration. Results: Examination of 50 children with foreign body aspiration showed that the most common age group was between 12 and 24 months. The majority were male (66%) and the male to female ratio was 1.9: 1, and 56% of the children had a foreign body aspiration history witnesses. Common symptoms were cough (84%), asphyxia (38%), respiratory distress (76%), fever (30%) and stiffness (8%). The most common finding was the decrease in air intake (68%). In 58% of the cases, the from the right main bronchus foreign body was removed and in 42% of cases betel nut was the most common foreign body. There was no death. Conclusion: Inhalation of foreign bodies is more common in men and usually occurs between 12 and 24 months of age. The most common complaints are cough and respiratory distress. However, children presented with sudden respiratory distress should be suspected tracheobronchial foreign bodies, even if their history and chest radiographs are inadequate. Early bronchoscopy results in excellent results in suspected patients.