Older Siblings Are at Increased Risk for Head and Neck Foreign Bodies

Abstract

Objectives:

1) Describe the role siblings play in foreign bodies of the head and neck. 2) Recognize the locations where children are most at risk for foreign bodies.

Methods:

This is a prospective case-control study in a tertiary care facility conducted from 2011-2013. Any child (0-17yo) with a foreign body removed from the head or neck was included. Data collected included location of the foreign body (eg, esophagus), location of acquisition (eg, home), and the number and ages of siblings. Controls were matched by age, gender, and location of removal (clinic, operating room, or emergency department).

Results:

There were 27 patients enrolled (16 male, 11 female). The average age was 5.2yo (median 4.6yo, range 9mo-13yo). The average age of patients with foreign bodies in the ear was 6.0yo (n = 17), esophagus 4.3yo (n = 6), and nose 3.2yo (n = 4). Children with a younger sibling are more likely to have a foreign body than children with no younger siblings (odds ratio [OR] = 3.025, P = 0.0738). This is particularly true when children are at home (n=17, OR 11.20, P = 0.0153). There is no statistically increased risk for patients with older siblings compared to no older siblings (OR = 0.6250, P = 0.4023) or having a sibling compared to no siblings (OR = 0.6786, P = 0.5346).

Conclusions:

Older siblings are more likely to acquire foreign bodies in the home than younger siblings. Increased awareness of this may help prevent some foreign bodies of the head and neck.