Question
Our child accidentally fell while eating biscuits, causing a mouthful of crumb fragments. Subsequently, symptoms of a sore throat appeared, with occasional coughing over the past few days. Although a chest CT scan did not reveal any abnormalities, there is still coughing. We are worried that it might be a small foreign object that was not detected.
Answer
If a foreign object is mistakenly inhaled into the respiratory tract, it should be removed immediately to prevent suffocation or other complications. If there is suspicion of a foreign object remaining, immediate medical examination and treatment under a doctor’s guidance are required. In everyday life, children should be educated on good eating habits to avoid playing or running while eating, reducing the risk of choking. For children under 3 years old, special attention should be paid to avoid giving hard or brittle foods such as nuts and beans, and to maintain quiet and focused eating times. For older children, they should be educated not to keep foreign objects in their mouths to prevent inhalation into the respiratory tract.