Long-Term Complications of Button Batteries in the Nose.

BACKGROUND: One of the common emergencies presenting to the emergency department is a child who has inserted a foreign body into their nose. Of the various things that children insert accidently, the most dangerous are button batteries.

CASE REPORT: We followed up 11 cases of children with history of button battery insertion in the nose for 1 year. We found that all of the patients had developed a septal perforation; other sequelae included nasal adhesions and saddle nose. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Button batteries in the nose are dangerous and can lead to early complications with long-term consequences for the patients. Early diagnosis is required so that they can be removed as soon as possible to prevent the development of complications and long-term sequelae.