LEAD FOREIGN-BODY INGESTION IN CHILDREN

Foreign body ingestion is seen commonly in paediatric surgical practic e and the vast majority of ingested foreign bodies will pass spontaneo usly once they have made their way into the stomach. Lead foreign body ingestion in children represents a special case in view of the potent ial for acute lead intoxication secondary to dissolution and absorptio n of the ingested lead. Lead dissolves poorly in physiological solutio ns with the exception of the acid environment of the stomach, We repor t a case of a 4-year-old child who ingested a lead sinker which was re moved from the stomach by emergency endoscopy, This case stimulated a review of the relevant literature and the formulation of a management plan for lead foreign body ingestion in children. The principles of th is management plan are observation of the child in hospital and use of a protein pump inhibitor until the foreign body has passed out of the stomach.