Children have a
tendency to pop in various objects in to their nasal
cavities. Out of fear they may not even reveal this to their
parents until it becomes too late. Most of these foreign
bodies are inert and cause very little damage to the nasal
cavity other than discharge. Sometimes chemical
laden foreign bodies are not so inert, they may cause significant
damage to the nasal mucosa of the patient leading on to
complications.
Clinical features of forgotten foreign body in
the nose:
1. Unilateraly foul smeeling nasal
discharge 2. Recurrent unilateral nasal infections 3. Swelling
and pain in the nose 4. Unilateral nasal block
The
presence of unilateral foul smelling nasal discharge is always an
indication of foreign body in the nose and a deligent search
sould be made to locate it.
This child whose video you
will be seeing had popped in a lithium cadmium battery inside her
right nasal cavity. She presented with complaints of
1. Foul smelling discharge from right nose 6
months 2. Epistaxis right nose on and off 4 months 3.
Headache on the right side - 6 months
On examination a shiny
foreign body could be seen inside the right nasal cavity.
There was also a septal perforation corresponding to the level of
the foreign body.
Under general anesthesia the foreign body
was removed.
Problems of Lithium cadmium battery foreign body
inside the nose: This battery uses
nickel oxide in its positive electrode (cathode), a cadmium compound
in its negative electrode (anode), and potassium hydroxide solution
as its electrolyte. The Nickel Cadmium Battery is rechargeable, so
it can cycle repeatedly. A nickel cadmium battery converts chemical
energy to electrical energy upon discharge and converts electrical
energy back to chemical energy upon recharge. These batteries are
fully laden with toxins like lithium and cadmium. Cadmium is a
corrosive poison. It corrodes the nasal septum (involving the
cartilagenous portion). The bony portion of the nasal septum
is not affected and is intact.
