Esophageal injuries

Abstract

Injuries to the esophagus in children are often due to accidental ingestions or traumatic injuries as young children have a tendency to explore the world with their hands and mouth. Childhood curiosity, lack of complete dentition, limited oromotor control, and immature judgment or carelessness each contribute to foreign body or caustic ingestion. Although ingestion of foreign bodies, batteries, coins, and drugs are accidental in most instances, child abuse, psychiatric illness, suicide, or Munchausen by proxy should be considered. Once having passed through the esophagus, most ingested foreign bodies, including sharp or pointed objects, will pass spontaneously through the alimentary tract. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.