Foreign body aspiration may occur when an object or piece of food gets lodged in a child’s respiratory tract. This can be an emergent, life-threatening event or can go undiagnosed for weeks or months.

"Each year over 100 children die from asphyxiation from foreign bodies in the airway in the United States. Most episodes of foreign body aspiration occur in children 5 or younger." - ENT for Children

This is because younger children have not developed their molar teeth yet to properly crush harder food; they often put foreign objects in their mouths, and they tend to eat very fast without fully chewing. An aspiration event may cause a child to have a choking or coughing spell. A period of coughing or choking followed by ongoing wheezing, respiratory difficulties, or infection is a common aspiration event.

Children who have foreign objects stuck in their respiratory tract may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Vomiting or gagging
• Persistent wheezing
• Choking or coughing episode
• Trouble breathing

A thorough history and exam are critical to help diagnose an airway foreign body. Chest x-rays may be helpful but are not always conclusive. Your ENT for Children surgeon may recommend a bronchoscopy under anesthesia (looking into the windpipes of the lungs with special cameras), as this is the most definitive way to diagnose a foreign body. The bronchoscopy is also the best method for removal of the foreign object.

Proper education about how to feed children is the best way to prevent this potentially life-threatening problem.