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Button batteries

Symptoms:

If a person puts the battery up their nose and breathes it further in, the following symptoms may occur:

  • Cough
  • Breathing problems
  • Possible complete respiratory failure
  • Pneumonia (if the battery goes unnoticed) 

A swallowed battery may cause no symptoms at all, but if it becomes stuck in the esophagus or stomach, the following symptoms may occur:

  • Chest pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting (possibly bloody)
  • Hole in the esophagus  
  • Cardiovascular collapse



Review Date: 5/16/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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