Button batteries are life-threatening: paediatricians warn and give tips

Baby Elias* is ten months old when he suddenly stops eating. When his parents notice that he is generally no longer swallowing, they immediately take him to the paediatric hospital for emergency treatment. The X-ray revealed a foreign body in Elijah's oesophagus. An emergency operation under general anaesthetic follows. A button battery is removed. It later transpired that Elias had somehow managed to remove it from a remote control.

The button battery triggered a chemical reaction in Elia's oesophagus and severely cauterised it. But he was lucky. Thanks to his rapid hospitalisation and immediate professional treatment, the incident had no serious consequences for him.

Button battery devastating within minutes

Other children are less fortunate. A button battery can have devastating consequences just a few minutes after being swallowed. Burns to the oesophagus and/or windpipe are typical. As a result, many children around the world live with severe disabilities. They can no longer swallow on their own, have to be fed through a tube or mechanically ventilated and undergo numerous follow-up operations. For some children, a button battery incident can even be fatal.

Very young children and babies are usually particularly badly affected. They cannot tell whether or what they have swallowed. This can delay the removal of the foreign body. A button battery can have serious consequences just a few minutes after being swallowed.

World Button Battery Day on 12 June is celebrated in memory of all these children. In this pandemic year, this day deserves special attention. Like a Italian study has shown that there has been a dramatic increase in such incidents during the lockdown. Paediatricians from other countries have also reported a noticeable increase.

Hidden danger lurks everywhere

In Switzerland, a number of paediatricians have now formed a working group. Together they want to use World Button Battery Day to warn of the dangers. This working group includes

• Dr Pascal Müller, President of the Swiss Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• Prof Gian Paolo Ramelli, President of the Swiss Society for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
• Dr Marc Sidler, MD, President Paediatricians Switzerland
• Prof Carsten Posovszky, 1st Chairman of the German-Swiss-Austrian Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (GPGE e.V.)
• PD Dr Raoul Furlano, Member of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Endoscopy Working Group

Together, the working group aims to sensitise not only parents and teachers, but also industry and politicians.

«It is very important to us doctors to inform as many people as possible around the world about the hidden dangers of these button batteries and to emphasise the importance of ensuring that button-battery-operated devices are sealed,» says PD Dr Raoul Furlano, Head of Gastroenterology & Nutritional Counselling at the University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB). «Politicians should urge manufacturers to fulfil manufacturing standards and promote the development of new and non-harmful energy sources.»

From toys and household appliances to LED candles, numerous products with unsafe closures are currently coming onto the market. Closures that are easy for children to open - or from which the batteries can even fall out on their own.

How to avoid accidents with button batteries

• Check which appliances in your household are button-battery operated. Make sure that these devices have a well-secured battery compartment that can only be opened with a screwdriver. Tape inadequately secured latches with strong adhesive tape, especially on toys, remote controls, kitchen scales or other easily accessible objects.
• Keep used button batteries safely locked away and out of the reach of children.
• Inform grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends and make everyone aware of the dangers of button batteries, also using social media.
• Don't waste any time! If you swallow a button battery, go to the nearest hospital immediately and give yourself a spoonful of honey beforehand, as this can greatly reduce chemical burns.