Button battery injury: An update.

Abstract

Paediatric button battery injuries present a challenge in the general practice setting. Although some children present with history or parental suspicion of button battery ingestion (BBI) or insertion, unwitnessed cases may present with non-specific symptoms thatcan mimic many respiratory and gastrointestinal pathologies. The aim of this article is to increase awareness of the fast onset of life-threatening tissue injury from BBI and the importance of timely referral as wellas provide an update on current management, including first aid management in the general practice setting. BBI is a medical emergency. The button battery requires urgent removal as it cancause caustic burn injury to its surrounding tissues in as little as 15minutes. Limited awareness of the time-critical nature of this presentation has been reported in multiple triage settings. Studies have shown a role for consumption of honey or sucralfate in delaying tissue injury while awaiting surgical removal.