Swallowed button battery: honey on the way to the clinic

Within just two hours, a stuck battery can cause severe burns, as its charged surface comes into contact with the tissue of the esophagus for a long time. Through the electric current, water becomes corrosive liquid. Therefore, in such a case, you should consult a doctor immediately so that a possibly fixed battery is removed endoscopically.

Until then, honey can help: children over a year are given up to six times every ten minutes about ten milliliters. "in the crucial phase between swallowing a button battery and endoscopic removal, the early and frequent intake of honey has the potential to reduce the severity of the injury," writes experts in the journal "the Laryngoscope". However, they strongly warn against postponing the way to the clinic: the clock starts ticking as soon as the battery gets stuck in the oesophagus. Honey can only prolong the short period of time until tissue injury occurs.

In the past 20 years, emergencies have increased by 67 percent due to the ingestion of button batteries in children. The type and size of the battery is important: because of its high voltage, lithium batteries and batteries with a diameter of 20 mm are particularly dangerous, as they are more likely to get stuck in the oesophagus. Children up to the age of six are most vulnerable.

Source: DOI 10.1503 / cmaj.210572