“Toddler swallowed jagged plastic ”
Hello, my 2 year old nephew swallowed a jagged piece of a disposable plastic spoon on Sunday evening. To our knowledge he has not pooped it out yet but we are not 100% on that. He’s not complaining of any pain and is eating, drinking and pooping normally. It’s been more than 48 hours and we are concerned it may still be in his system. If it is, how long should it take to pass in his stool? Or is there a chance it might not pass but cause damage?
Male | 2 years old
Complaint duration: 3 days
Medications: None
Conditions: None
2 Answers
Patricia Scheider
Pediatrician
It can take up to a week for a foreign body to pass through the gut. If he is feeling well, eating and stooling well, I would wait a few days. If the plastic piece is small, it may pass unnoticed. Watch for vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing or blood in his stools. Plastic does not show up on X-ray, so an X-ray would not help if he is asymptomatic The most dangerous things for toddlers to swallow are small watch or camera batteries or small magnets in toys. Those should be treated immediately. The National poison control center is a toll free number and provides excellent advice
Tiffany Blockson
Pediatrician
I would suggest following up with your pediatrician. They can do a thorough exam and determine if imaging is indicated or if he needs to see a specialist.
