Suggest Remedies For Accidental Ingestion Of Glass Piece By An Infant

Posted on Thu, 12 Oct 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 Answered on

Sat, 4 Nov 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi,
My 13 month old daughter was playing with a mirror and dropped it. I did not pay attention to the mirror as it did not seem broken.. after a while when i checked it, the corners of the mirror were damaged and when i checked the floor i could find minute pieces of glass which were less than half centimeter.. she was playing at the same place for more than 10
Minutes.. i am
Wondering what if she had swallowed those tiny pieces of glass.. 4 hours have passed and she did not show any symptoms till now. How long should i watch for symptoms.. can a glass piece less than half centimeter show up on an x ray? What would be the symptoms? Can it be fatal if stuck in oesophagus or intestine?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You need not panic - suggestions given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi....I understand your concern.

First, be rest assured that it is not life-threatening and she's safe.

Even the size you are mentioning will be picked up in the X-rays.

You need to watch for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, blood stains or streaks in the vomitus, bloodstained stools, black streaks in stools, pain abdomen, and abdominal distension.

If these symptoms are not there you need not worry. Be on the watch for the next 3-7 days.

But the best way out is to take her to the nearest emergency room and get her examined and also get an X-ray of chest and abdomen taken. This will clear all doubts about ingestion immediately.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (9 minutes later)

If she had aspirated will it also show up in an x ray or ct scan?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It will show up on X-Ray itself

Detailed Answer:
Hi...

It will show up on X-Ray itself....no need to go for a CT scan.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (12 hours later)

Thanks so much for patiently answering my query.. i have one last question if the glass gets stuck in the throat or oesophagus when will the excess drooling and vomit symptoms appear.. if the child is asymptomatic for 24 hours does it mean the object entered digestive tract? same way if it was aspirated wen ll the symptoms show n wad will be the symptoms..

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
object stuck in throat - symptoms appear immediately

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Greetings from XXXXXXX I am a consultant pediatrician at XXXXXXX xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, XXXXXXX Coming to your queries one by one -

1. If the glass gets stuck in the throat or esophagus the symptoms usually appear immediately. But keeping in mind the size you have mentioned, it might have passed on down. But even for that size, if the glass piece gets stuck, it will irritate, cause pain and the symptoms will be immediate.

2. If the kid is asymptomatic in this case - I would first think that she has not ingested the glass piece. But as you are asking I am telling that we may assume that it might have passed on down.

3. If it had been aspirated, then the symptoms would have been like cough, respiratory distress and severe breathlessness.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj