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Button battery poisoning: What you need to know

Button batteries are flat, coin-sized discs that can easily become lodged in the esophagus when they are swallowed.

    by Marco Lombardo, PharmD candidate, and Jeremy Tran, public education co-coordinator
    Published 

Today's guest bloggers are Marco Lombardo, PharmD Candidate and Jeremy Tran, Public Education Co-Coordinator at the Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

When people think of poisonous substances in the home, batteries may not be the first things that come to mind. Despite this, a type of battery commonly referred to as a "button battery" can be fatal if swallowed. Every year in the United States, ­­over 2,500 children are treated in hospitals after ingesting button batteries.

Button batteries are flat, coin-sized discs that can easily become lodged in the esophagus when they are swallowed. If a battery becomes lodged, it can begin causing burns to the digestive tract within 30 minutes of ingesting. In the esophagus, the battery creates an electrical current and leaks harmful chemicals that cause severe burns. If the battery is not removed in time, it can cause fatal injury can occur.

The early symptoms occurring after swallowing a button battery may be mistaken for common gastrointestinal illnesses or respiratory infections. Unfortunately, this was the case for a 2-year-old, who died in January after the button battery she had swallowed burned through her esophagus. It is believed that she swallowed the battery within six days of her death. In that time, the only symptom she had was a low fever.

Since of a button battery ingestion can be hard to recognize, it is important to be aware of all of the button batteries in your home and keep them clear of the hands of your kiddos. Button batteries can be found in many common household items, including:

  1. Hearing aids

  2. Greeting cards

  3. Electronic candles

  4. Remote Controls

  5. Digital thermometers

  6. Cameras

  7. Calculators

  8. Bathroom Scales

While many of these devices have battery compartments that are secured by a screw, there are others that can easily be accessed by children.  The following are ways to minimize the risk of button battery ingestion in your home:

  1. Where possible, avoid purchasing products that contain button batteries

  2. Store items that contain button batteries out of reach of children, especially if they can be accessed without a screw driver

  3. Never leave loose button batteries around the house

  4. Never temporarily hold button batteries in your mouth

  5. If a button battery is ingested, go to the emergency room immediately

  6. Do not induce vomiting after ingestion of button battery

No matter how many precautions are taken in the home, there are some children that will still find a way to access and swallow these batteries. If that happens, do not hesitate to call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, where nurses and pharmacists are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to answer your questions toll-free.

Also, please spread the word about the potential danger of button batteries with this video recently produced by the Poison Control Center at Children's.

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