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Betel Nut Lodged in Child's Lung Causes Collapse
5 Jul
Summary
- A child's persistent cough hid a betel nut lodged in his airway.
- The foreign object caused total collapse of the child's left lung.
- Specialists used advanced equipment to remove the betel nut.
A four-year-old child experienced a month-long battle with a persistent cough and fever, which was initially misdiagnosed as pneumonia and even tuberculosis. The real culprit was a betel nut, accidentally inhaled and lodged deep within his airway. This foreign object caused the complete collapse of his left lung, leading to severe respiratory distress and failure.
After being turned away by some hospitals due to the complexity of the case, the child was admitted to Amrita Hospital in Faridabad. A multidisciplinary team of specialists utilized advanced airway equipment, including a cryoprobe, to perform a specialized minimally invasive procedure. They successfully removed the impacted betel nut, which was surrounded by pus and inflammatory tissue.
The procedure allowed the child's collapsed lung to re-inflate. He was gradually weaned off mechanical ventilation and has since recovered fully, breathing normally on room air and returning home in stable condition.
Doctors emphasize that children under five are prone to choking on small objects like betel nuts and advise parents to seek immediate medical attention for persistent coughs or breathing difficulties after a suspected choking episode, as such incidents can have life-threatening consequences if delayed.
