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

[LotusFlower]

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?

[Visitor7]

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

[aussienic]

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

[Liz]

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?

[Phteven]

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.

[Danni]

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

[LotusFlower]

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.

[Je$$_84]

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

[LotusFlower]

I just called poison's information and they said he doesn't even need a check up.
Obviously I'll still keep an eye on him for the next few days but phew!
So not the stress one needs when almost 36wk pg!

[Schmickers]

Black stool is a sign of old blood - that is, blood that has been partially digested.

Regardless of what the poison's information line has told you, I would strongly recommend taking him to your local hospital or GP as soon as you can and asking for him to be examined, and possibly having an x-ray of the throat and chest as well. Once batteries start to corrode they will leak battery acid, which is highly damaging to the delicate tissues of the throat and gut.

[Marlene]

Yep, what Schmickers said.

[LotusFlower]

Black stool is a sign of old blood - that is, blood that has been partially digested.

It was definitely not occult blood in there though. I'm a vet nurse and well versed on melena. The blackness was "flakey", like oxidisation.