UNAIR NEWS – A button battery with a very small size turns out to be deadly if accidentally swallowed. Some time ago, as reported by BBC News, a toddler in England died after accidentally swallowing a remote control battery.
This heartbreaking incident received a response from a pediatrician and lecturer of the Faculty of Medicine (FK) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), dr Andy Darma Sp.A (K). According to Andy, if the button battery gets stuck in the esophagus and is not extracted within 3 to 4 hours, it can lead to perforation or more serious problems.
“For both children and adults, if swallowed, button batteries can cause electrical burn (burns caused by electric currents, ed) to perforation (holes in organs caused by wounds, ed),” he explained to the UNAIR News on July 5, 2021.
Andy explained, if swallowed, the lithium content in the battery is not the main thing to worry about. Still, potential electrical current or burns may happen caused by electric currents and cause fatal damage.
He continued, used button batteries that are no longer electrically charged can cause more damage than other types of batteries. “The 3-volt button battery no longer works when the voltage is only 1.5 volts. Even though with a voltage of 1.2 V, it is enough to cause internal burns,” said Andy.
Meanwhile, according to Andy, button batteries are the most common cases found in children during endoscopy (procedure to see the condition of certain organs, ed). In some patients, batteries larger than 20 mm are more likely to get stuck in the esophagus if swallowed.
“Symptoms can occur quickly. Starting from no symptoms, the child complains of chest pain; to vomiting blood. Therefore, it is very dangerous,” he stressed.
On the other hand, the use of button batteries today is very diverse. They are easy to find around children and some other household appliances such as scales, reading lights, cameras, toys, watches, calculators, and remote controls.
Parents and caregivers should be fully aware of the serious risks associated with button batteries because they can be fatal if swallowed.
“If it gets stuck in the esophagus, immediately take it to a health facility with an endoscopy unit as first aid. In European research, honey can be given to neutralize the electric current in the battery,” he explained. (*)
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
Editor: Khefti AlMawalia
