A butterfly-shaped plastic sticker became stuck between a toddler’s vocal cords.[Ref:9] This caused a weak, hoarse cry; noise when breathing both in and out; and a cough that sounded like a dog or a seal barking (similar to croup). The sticker was removed with forceps, causing brief bleeding of the inflammatory tissue that had been incited by the foreign body. Such inflammatory tissue recedes rapidly once the foreign body is removed.
Stickers are relatively common transglottic laryngeal foreign body. Similar problems have been caused by a pencil shaving, a piece of eggshell and the torn corner of a ketchup packet.
The presence of older siblings in the household increases the risk for choking, possibly because toys and other objects with small parts are more likely to be present and caregiving activities, such as feeding, to be undertaken by older siblings.[Ref:44]
