Pediatric nasal foreign bodies: A review of 281 cases

Abstract

Nasal foreign bodies are often encountered in daily clinical practice, most often in children. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 281 consecutive cases of pediatric nasal foreign bodies who presented to our hospital during a 5-year period. We examined the age, sex, year and month of presentation, the shape and size of the foreign body and complications. The average age of the patients was 3.6 years (SD ± 1.5 years). There was no gender difference. The average diameter of the foreign body was 8.6mm (SD ± 2.3mm). There were no cases of serious complications such as perforation of the nasal septum or foreign bodies in the trachea. Foreign bodies under 12mm in diameter pose the risk of being inserted into the nostrils in preschool children.