Usually occurs in children <5 years
Causes
- Seeds, e.g., bean, peas, ground nut
- Paper, foam rubber (e.g. mattress foam)
- Beads, stones, metal objects
Clinical features
- Usually inserted by the child, and therefore mostly found in the right-hand nasal cavity
- Foreign body noticed by child/parent
- May be visible or felt
- Sharp object may cause bleeding
- Unilateral foul-smelling discharge from the nose
Differential diagnosis
- Infection in the nose, sinuses, or adenoids
Investigations
- Usually not required (Clinical diagnosis is enough)
- X-rays may be helpful in case of metallic objects like wires or ball bearings
MANAGEMENT
- Sit the child up or wrap in a blanket
First aid
- Blow through the mouth while blocking the unaffected side of the nose
Other methods of removal
Paper or foam rubber
- Grasp firmly and remove with a fine forceps, e.g., Tilley’s forceps
- Carefully pass a blunt hook behind the object, and then gently pull it out
If the above fails
- Refer to an ENT specialist
Prevention
- Caution children about placing objects in mouth, nose, and ears