A renowned Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. K. A. Boateng says disk batteries pose one of the biggest ENT threats to children.
Disk batteries are small coin-shaped batteries used in calculators, watches, toys, musical greeting cards, and hearing aids, amongst other devices.
In an interview on Prime Morning with Asieduwaa Akumia, he spoke about how parents should be more cautious about the toys they allow their children to play with and explained how they are not only a choking hazard, but if put in the ear, the battery can leak onto the sensitive tissue in and around the ear, causing harm to the child.
“The electrical discharge and the leakage of the alkaline into the tissues around and other things cause damage. So for the ear something like a disk battery, once it is identified, it is an emergency we need to take it out”, he said.
The surgeon warned especially those with little children at home, about the long-term effects of this hazard such as hearing impairment.
He mentioned how if swallowed it can get stuck in the oesophagus and be a choking hazard or it can leak its content into the oesophagus and damage multiple tissues, bursting the food pipe.
“Eventually, if it stays too long, it bursts the oesophagus, that is the pipe that food goes through. The moment your child’s oesophagus bursts, it’s a very dangerous situation and that can take about three hours to happen, especially if the battery is new. So it’s important to monitor little children when they are playing.”
He equally advised that parents shouldn’t try to cure their children by trying to induce vomiting as it may complicate the situation.
“So your child has swallowed something, whatever thing, don't attempt to induce vomiting as a way of having to get it out. Some of them may give their child palm oil or something to drink in an attempt to throw up and then bring it out. That's a danger because in your attempt to make your child throw up and all, a child could inhale and whatever that is coming out can go into the airway and that's a dangerous situation. Your child will become very sick aside from the fact that that thing will not even come out, in addition, your child now develops pneumonia and other things,” he alerted.
He appealed to parents and guardians not to leave children playing unattended and to be careful of the toys their children play with and to make sure that none of them will give easy access to the batteries in the toy.
Latest Stories
-
Rheumatologist sheds light on hidden challenges persons living with lupus face
20 mins -
Ghana, Nigeria and the quest for UK looted treasure
31 mins -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, says Nigeria is ‘my country’ on visit with Prince Harry
37 mins -
Man who received first pig kidney transplant dies
1 hour -
Akufo-Addo pays tribute at funeral of late former DCE and chief of Binaba
1 hour -
Afronita hopeful of making it to Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals
1 hour -
Oprah Winfrey speaks of ‘biggest regret’ as she opens up about weight loss struggles
1 hour -
Arsenal beat Man Utd to return top and keep title race alive
1 hour -
Djokovic greets fans with a helmet after being hit by bottle
2 hours -
Leverkusen beat Bochum to go 50 games unbeaten
2 hours -
How Kendrick Lamar and Drake changed rap beefs forever
2 hours -
Harry and Meghan visit Lagos school on final day of Nigeria tour
2 hours -
World’s top coffee, soy and sugar supplier Brazil wants to rule cocoa, too
2 hours -
Yaw Nsarkoh: I remember Paulin Hountondji…
2 hours -
Inspiring Love Story: How Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and adorable Lady Julia first met; 6 lessons learnt
2 hours