Batteries are common in many household items. Despite their small size, particularly button and cylindrical batteries, they pose a significant and often hidden danger if ingested. Swallowing a battery is a serious medical emergency requiring immediate attention to prevent severe internal damage and life-threatening complications.
How Batteries Cause Harm
When a battery is swallowed, it can inflict injury through several distinct mechanisms. The most significant danger stems from a chemical reaction, especially with alkaline button batteries. Once in contact with bodily fluids like saliva, an electrical current is generated, leading to the formation of a caustic solution. This reaction causes severe alkaline burns to surrounding tissues, often within two hours.
Beyond chemical burns, batteries can also generate an electrical discharge, damaging tissue. Larger batteries, particularly cylindrical ones, also present a physical obstruction risk, potentially blocking the airway or digestive tract and causing pressure necrosis to the delicate internal lining.
Recognizing Battery Ingestion
Identifying battery ingestion can be challenging, as symptoms often mimic common childhood illnesses or may not appear immediately. If the battery becomes lodged in the esophagus or airway, a person might experience choking, coughing, gagging, or noisy breathing. Other indicators include excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, or refusing to eat or drink.
As damage progresses, more severe symptoms can manifest, such as chest pain or abdominal pain, vomiting (which may contain blood), or fever. Changes in bowel movements, like black or bloody stools, can also signal internal bleeding. Irritability or lethargy, particularly in children, may also be observed. Because symptoms vary and are often non-specific, a high index of suspicion is crucial, especially if a battery-containing device is found open or a battery is missing.
Immediate Steps After Ingestion
Time is of the essence, especially if a button battery is lodged in the esophagus, as serious burns can develop within two hours. It is important to avoid attempting to induce vomiting, as this can cause further injury as the battery passes back through the esophagus. Do not give the individual any food or drink, as this can complicate medical assessment and removal procedures.
The most important step is to seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services, such as 911, or going to the nearest emergency department. While en route, contacting a poison control center, such as the national hotline at 1-800-222-1222, can provide expert guidance. If available, bringing the battery packaging or noting any imprinted codes on the battery or the device it came from can help medical professionals identify the battery’s chemistry and size, aiding in treatment decisions.
Professional Medical Intervention and Potential Outcomes
Upon arrival at a medical facility, diagnosing battery ingestion typically involves X-rays to precisely locate the battery within the body. For batteries lodged in the esophagus, emergent removal is necessary, ideally within two hours of ingestion, using an endoscope—a flexible tube with a camera and tools inserted through the mouth. If the battery has passed into the stomach, observation may be an option if the patient remains asymptomatic, as many batteries will pass naturally through the intestines; however, repeated X-rays are often used to monitor its progression. In some cases, if the battery remains fixed in the stomach for an extended period, or if severe damage or inaccessibility occurs, surgical removal may be required.
The potential outcomes of battery ingestion can be severe and long-lasting. Chemical burns can lead to esophageal perforation, where a hole forms in the esophageal wall, or strictures, which are narrowings of the esophagus due to scar tissue. Other serious complications include the formation of fistulas, such as a tracheoesophageal fistula (an abnormal connection between the trachea and esophagus), or a fatal aortoesophageal fistula, where the burn erodes into the main artery. Vocal cord paralysis and other long-term complications requiring ongoing medical care are also possibilities. Even if a battery appears to pass without immediate incident, internal damage can still occur, necessitating continued monitoring for delayed symptoms.
Preventing Battery Ingestion
Preventing battery ingestion is crucial, particularly in households with young children or vulnerable individuals. A primary strategy involves storing all batteries, both new and used, out of sight and reach. Even “dead” batteries can retain enough charge to cause significant internal burns if swallowed.
Securing battery compartments on electronic devices is also important; ideally, choose products with screw-closed compartments that require a tool to open. For devices with less secure battery covers, consider using strong tape to reinforce them.
Proper and immediate disposal of used batteries is also important. When discarding button batteries, taping both sides with clear tape can reduce the risk of short-circuiting and make them harder to swallow.
Awareness of common household items containing button batteries, such as remote controls, toys, key fobs, hearing aids, and musical greeting cards, can help parents identify potential hazards. Regularly inspecting toys and electronics for loose or dislodged batteries further reduces the risk of accidental ingestion.