The foreign bodies which may enter in the throat include coin, marble, seed, peanuts, fish bone etc. The foreign body may irritate the throat and patient feels uncomfortable and complains pain in the throat.
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The vocal cord muscles are tightened due to which he has difficulty in breathing, talking and swallowing.
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First Aid:
(i) Reassure the patient.
(ii) Make the patient sit in a comfortable position with mouth downward. Give a few blows on his shoulders until the foreign body is thrown out.
(iii) If the object does not come out, give him cooked potatoes, banana, soft rice or soft bread to eat. It will help the swallowed object to pass down.
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(iv) Do not give purgatives.
(v) Examine stools on next morning for the foreign body.
1. Foreign Body in the Ear:
Children may push foreign bodies like peas, grams, beads, buttons, pieces of stones or pieces of chalk etc. into their ears. An insect may also enter into the ear, if not removed may cause serious complications.
First Aid:
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(i) Put warm oil in the ear to float out the insect.
(ii) If unsuccessful then contact the doctor.
(iii) Under no circumstances try to remove foreign body with a match stick, tweezers or hair pins etc. During this act the delicate membrane called the ear drum may be damaged.
2. Foreign Body in the Nose:
Children may push foreign bodies like peas, grams, buttons, pieces of stones or small coins into their nose. The patient feels uncomfortable and complains of pain and irritation in the nose. There may be bleeding if sharp object like pin, nail, needle or broken glass has been pushed into the nose.
First Aid:
Make the patient sneeze by using snuff or entering the end of a piece of thread in the opposite nostril. The foreign body may be expelled by sneezing.
If unsuccessful seek the help of a doctor.
Do not try to remove it with a pin or a hook,
3. Foreign Body in the Eye:
Often small particles of dust, wood, stone, coal, glass or an insect may get into the eyes and cause irritation, redness and watering in the eyes and vision may be blurred.
First Aid:
(i) Make the patient sit in a chair.
(ii) Ask him not to rub the eyes.
(iii) Gently wipe the foreign body out with a wisp of cotton wool or with the folded corner of a clean handkerchief.
(iv) Wash the eyes with warm water.
(v) Put eye drops.
(vi) Do not attempt to remove a foreign body lodged in the eye ball.
(vii) If strong acids have entered into the eyes wash it out by washing the eyes with weak solution of sodium carbonate.
(viii) If strong alkalies have entered into the eyes wash it out by washing the eyes with vinegar solution.
(ix) If unsuccessful, take the patient to the doctor.
4. Foreign Body in the Skin:
A sharp object like nail, pin, piece of glass or thorn may enter the skin of feet or hands. If a part of the foreign body is projecting out, it is grasped and pulled out. But if it is deep seated and cannot be pulled easily then the patient should be taken to the doctor. After removing the foreign body from the skin, an antiseptic solution like dettol or iodine should be applied to the affected part.