Coins
Coins usually lodge in the esophagus. They are most common aero-digestive foreign body requiring removal under general anaesthesia.
Most Common Foreign Bodies
The most common aerodigestive foreign bodies worldwide are fishbones, coins, nuts and seeds.
Nuts and Seeds
Peanuts and almonds are the most common nuts found in the bronchi. Peanuts create more bronchial inflammation than any other food. Both sunflower seeds and their shells are choking hazards.
Fishbones
The most common foreign body to lodge in the swallowing passages; this may lead to a severe infection of the neck and/or chest. Poultry bones are also hazardous.
Raw Vegetables
One of the more common bronchial foreign bodies, raw carrots should never be used as a teether! Cooking carrots vastly reduces the risk.
Raw Fruit
Even if the apple (or pear) skin is removed, crispy raw fruit is still a choking hazard. Watermelon seeds are the most commonly aspirated fruit seeds. Watermelon rind has also become a bronchial foreign body.
Hard Candies
Hard, round candies can be lethal if inhaled between the vocal cords (or beyond) or if swallowed (by compressing the airway from behind).
Unpopped Popcorn Kernels
Unpopped popcorn kernels are much more dangerous than popped kernels. Unpopped popcorn kernels are a common bronchial foreign body.
Plastic Stickers and Toy Parts
This sticker had been lodged in the esophagus. Similar stickers have become lodged between the vocal cords.
Pins and Needles
An open safety pin lodged in the esophagus is very dangerous. This was common in the days of cloth diapers. Today, thumbtacks are a more common bronchial foreign body; but not as common as headscarf and turban pins, in some Islamic and Sikh countries.
Kinder Surprise Toys
While crawling at home, a 9-month-old girl put something inside her mouth.
Did You Know?!
Choking and suffocation are responsible for almost 40% of unintentional injuries in infants under the age of one in Canada.[Ref:3]