An increasing number of children are being hospitalized after eating button batteries which can cause serious injuries and even death.
A new survey shows that the tiny coin-sized lithium-ion batteries, widely used in household electronic devices are increasingly sending children to the hospital while still many parents are unaware about the risk.
According to the study, throughout two decades from 1990 to 2009, about 66,000 battery-related emergency department visits by children was made in the US, which 84 percent of them were due to button batteries ingestion.
The children were taken to the ER after placing button batteries in their mouths, noses and ears, but most the frequent and dangerous reason was swallowing batteries, according to the journal Pediatrics.
Putting button batteries in the mouth may lead to deadly airway blockage and choking. In addition, they can become lodged in the esophagus, burning holes through it that cause chronic breathing problems and infections. Even in some more severe cases it may lead to deadly bleedings within hours.
However, despite the increasing rates, about 66 percent of questioned parents said they had not read, seen or heard anything about the risks of coin-sized button batteries.
“If a child swallows a button battery, the parent might not see it happen and the child might not have symptoms initially - and the clock is ticking,” suggested co-author Dr. Gary Smith, head of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
“For parents, the message is that if they suspect that their child has swallowed a battery they need to get to the ER right away," Smith said. "And in terms of prevention, they need to store and dispose of batteries out of reach, and also tape all battery compartments shut.”
The health experts warn that children usually find the attractive and candy like buttons inside easy to open battery compartments of electronic devices.
“For manufacturers, what we really need is to have an overarching effort by the industry to make battery compartments inaccessible and child-resistant,” Smith added. “For all products. Not just toys. Because most were not coming from products intended for children. They were coming from remote controls. Flashlights.” (Press TV)
A new survey shows that the tiny coin-sized lithium-ion batteries, widely used in household electronic devices are increasingly sending children to the hospital while still many parents are unaware about the risk.
According to the study, throughout two decades from 1990 to 2009, about 66,000 battery-related emergency department visits by children was made in the US, which 84 percent of them were due to button batteries ingestion.
The children were taken to the ER after placing button batteries in their mouths, noses and ears, but most the frequent and dangerous reason was swallowing batteries, according to the journal Pediatrics.
Putting button batteries in the mouth may lead to deadly airway blockage and choking. In addition, they can become lodged in the esophagus, burning holes through it that cause chronic breathing problems and infections. Even in some more severe cases it may lead to deadly bleedings within hours.
However, despite the increasing rates, about 66 percent of questioned parents said they had not read, seen or heard anything about the risks of coin-sized button batteries.
“If a child swallows a button battery, the parent might not see it happen and the child might not have symptoms initially - and the clock is ticking,” suggested co-author Dr. Gary Smith, head of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
“For parents, the message is that if they suspect that their child has swallowed a battery they need to get to the ER right away," Smith said. "And in terms of prevention, they need to store and dispose of batteries out of reach, and also tape all battery compartments shut.”
The health experts warn that children usually find the attractive and candy like buttons inside easy to open battery compartments of electronic devices.
“For manufacturers, what we really need is to have an overarching effort by the industry to make battery compartments inaccessible and child-resistant,” Smith added. “For all products. Not just toys. Because most were not coming from products intended for children. They were coming from remote controls. Flashlights.” (Press TV)
Source : Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), International Service
