A 15-month-old boy from Jaunpur, who was initially treated for a chest infection, was found to have a peanut lodged in his airway for nearly 20 days. The child suffered from persistent cough, fever, and breathing distress, and did not respond to medications for recurrent respiratory illness. He was referred to the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow, where doctors diagnosed a foreign object stuck in his left bronchus. The object, a peanut, was successfully removed in a procedure supervised by paediatric surgeon Dr. Basant Kumar, pulmonologist Dr. Ajmal Khan, and anaesthesiologist Dr. Sanjay Kumar.
Rising Cases of Accidental Inhalation in Toddlers
SGPGI Director Prof. RK Dhiman highlighted a steady increase in toddlers accidentally inhaling small food items or objects while eating or playing. He shared this case as a warning to parents. Dr. Basant Kumar explained that children often cannot communicate what happened, and symptoms mimic common respiratory infections, leading to delayed diagnosis. Small items like peanuts, seeds, coins, buttons, and toy parts can slip into a child's airway, causing continuous coughing, wheezing, fever, or breathing difficulty. If not detected in time, the condition can lead to repeated pneumonia, severe lung infection, and life-threatening complications.
Post-Procedure Recovery and Parental Advice
The child showed rapid improvement after the procedure. Doctors appealed to parents to never leave toddlers unattended while eating, especially when consuming nuts or other small food items. Caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if a child suddenly develops choking, wheezing, unexplained cough, or breathing trouble after eating or playing with small objects. This incident underscores the importance of vigilance and timely intervention to prevent serious health risks in young children.
