thread: So, if your kid swallowed a battery....?

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Registered User

    Oct 2006
    Melbourne, Australia
    217

    So, if your kid swallowed a battery....?

    Last night I was changing Noah's pooey nappy and noticed it was quite "black". I was having a bit of a look, worried it might be some occult blood.
    Oh no! Sitting there in all it's glory I found a watch battery. The "smaller/ fatter" type, not the "large, flat disc" type one.
    It doesn't seem to be damaged at all, just looks like his stomach acid has blackened the outside.
    Surely if it was a problem I would have noticed some symptoms by now right? Like there would have been vomiting or obvious pain wouldn't there?
    He's been off his food a little for a few days. But no more so than any other given week. ie. he keeps telling me he wants icypoles and lollypops for dinner *ahem*.
    I called the "Nurse on Call" and she said that if he'd just swallowed it I would have needed to take him straight to the ER, but as it had passed she assumed it would be ok.
    But then I stupidly went on Google and there's a heap of coverage for a little girl who died in the US recently. 3 weeks after swallowing a battery she died from bleeding in her oesophagus where it had been lodged and had eaten through. But they knew straight away thet it had lodged there because of the pain she was in.
    What would you reccomend doing? Keeping an eye on him? Calling casualty? Waiting until tomorrrow and calling the GP?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    5,951

    I would probably take him to the dr, just to put your mind at ease.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add aussienic on Facebook

    Feb 2005
    Boyne Island
    6,327

    same I would go to the GP for a check up to make sure all was ok and it did no damage while it was in there

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jun 2005
    Blue Mountains
    5,086

    Well, this one didn't lodge itself seeing as it's passed... but it probably wouldn't hurt to go to the dr in case there was more than 1? Do you know where he got it? Was there a pile of batteries or something?

  5. #5

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    If you were concerned about blood because if the colour I would definately be ringing the poisons information center or the health line for more advice.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    in a house!
    6,125

    Oh no--- I would definitely take him in to get checked over just in case.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Oct 2006
    Melbourne, Australia
    217

    There was only the one battery. I had put it up on the computer desk so I knew which type to get.

    I should add, the black poo was definitely NOT blood. It was black because of the oxidisation/ wear to the outside of the battery iykwim?
    100% not blood though.
    I think I might just pop him in to the GP tomorrow morning.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    S/West Sydney
    1,794

    I agree i would Get him checked JIC... If it was from a toy maybe there was more then 1. GL

    ETA- POsted at the same time Good to know it wasnt more then 1