Button Battery Ingestion in Children: A Dangerous Foreign Body

Pediatric morbidity and mortality related to button battery ingestion has increased since the introduction of lithium batteries inside common household electronics. Larger-diameter button batteries are more likely to result in esophageal impaction in children < 6 years old, resulting in tissue damage. Updated 2018 treatment recommendations include administering honey en route to the hospital for children > 1 year of age and the injection of acetic acid after the removal of the battery. In 2022, legislation was signed into law requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission to implement specific consumer product safety standards on products that use button batteries.

Duke Scholars

Author Emily Funk School of Nursing