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A throat obstruction due to swallowing something happens most in children and sometimes in adults as well. Children tend to put just about anything in their mouth, especially when they are teething or often out of curiosity. Objects that are colorful or sharp like buttons, safety pins, small toys, coins, wood, glass, etc may catch a child’s eye and make its way into the mouth. Any object that is swallowed takes about 24 to 48 hours to reach the digestive tract but in the meanwhile if it gets stuck in throat, it could cause damage as well as an infection. Some objects need immediate attention like pointed objects that lead to the tearing of the esophageal lining and the alkaline from button batteries can result in tissue injury. If the object swallowed is large, there might be a chance the person may choke, thus proving fatal. In adults, the most common reason for a throat obstruction is due to food. Fish or small chicken bones sometimes escape the eye while eating and ends up getting lodged in the esophagus. About 60% of foreign bodies get trapped at the upper esophagus level.

A foreign object being stuck in the throat is not to be taken lightly and should be addressed immediately. A fish bone if not removed, it could end up puncturing the throat. A round object like a button can cause blockage in the throat, restricting the passage of air and trapping saliva with the risk of choking. Whatever the reason, you must consult a medical professional for help, if the object does not get removed. There are however a few home remedies you can try for the not so serious cases, these are:

• Calm down

• Determine what the foreign object is, before treating the obstruction.

• If the object has blocked the air passage, give 5 back slaps, follow it with 5 abdominal thrusts (use chest compression for infants) and then alternate between 5 back slaps and 5 abdominal thrusts till the object is dislodged from the throat.

• To perform an abdominal thrust, stand behind the person wrapping your arms around his waist tip him forward slightly. Now make a fist with your hand and place it a little above the person’s navel. Hold the fist with other hand and press the abdomen hard with a quick upward thrust. Repeat this five times along with the five back slaps.

• For adults, if it is a fish or small chicken bone, make a small ball of cooked rice and swallow it. You can also try bread. Gargling with a teaspoon of vinegar helps to soften chicken bones, after which you can swallow the rice or bread for throat pain relief.

• Keep objects out of children’s reach, especially batteries and sharp pointy ones.

Immediate emergency medical attention will be needed if the person is drooling, is not able to swallow liquids, the airway is compromised, there is suspected intestinal perforation, active bleeding and ingestion of a button battery. An x-ray or a CT scan may have to be done to locate a potentially dangerous object, if it cannot be removed with other conventional methods.

Reference

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid/FA00059

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.