Foreign body in the nose, ear and oropharynx of children and adolescents treated in a public reference hospital

Introduction: The aim of the current prospective study is to feature the service provided to 0-19-year-old patients diagnosed with foreign body in the nose, ear or oropharynx, in a public reference hospital, from February 2017 to November 2019. Methods: All 232 patients were subjected to full otorhinolaryngological examination before the foreign body was removed; patients’ data such as age, sex, time of evolution with foreign body, foreign body site and type, and complications were recorded in a form developed by the service itself. Results: Foreign bodies prevailed in male preschoolers presenting time of evolution ranging from 1 to 30 days; the main site was the ear, which was followed by nose and oropharynx; the main foreign body types were seeds and plastic materials; isolated bleeding was the main complication. Conclusions: Based on the most affected age groups and on the prevalence of foreign bodies often found in home environments, it is possible stating that preschoolers and schoolchildren’s family members should always be attentive in order to avoid foreign body-related issues in children. In addition, these patients must be properly managed by trained health professionals to help decreasing complication indices.