Did you swallow an alkaline battery? Steps to follow
The alkaline battery is the common battery used in flashlights, portable radios, and toys. There may be harmful effects when a person swallows an alkaline battery or breathes large amounts of dust or smoke from burning batteries. Children have a higher chance of swallowing an alkaline button cell battery due to its attractive shape.
Poisoning occurs when a person is exposed to the chemicals inside the battery. Most household exposures, such as licking some fluid from a leaking battery or swallowing a coin cell battery, are minor. Serious problems are usually only seen when exposed to the chemicals inside the battery during industrial accidents.
The symptoms depend on the type of battery that is swallowed. There may be harmful effects when an alkaline battery is swallowed. The main symptoms of alkaline battery poisoning may include: severe pain in the mouth, inability to breathe due to closed throat inflammation, severe pain in the throat, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, rapid drop in pressure arterial and collapse. You may have a few more symptoms when you inhale large amounts of the alkaline battery, or the contents, dust, and smoke of burning batteries.
Immediate emergency treatment is very important when any battery is swallowed. Some of the measures to take if someone swallows an alkaline battery are the following:
If alkaline batteries or alkaline button batteries are swallowed, do not induce vomiting or give food or drink, and consult a doctor immediately. Give the person water or milk if recommended by a health care provider. If the person has inhaled battery fumes, it is recommended that the person immediately move to fresh air before seeking medical attention. Do not make a person vomit unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health professional. Before calling for emergency medical help, determine information such as the patient’s age, weight, and condition, the type of alkaline battery swallowed, the time it was swallowed, and the amount swallowed. The next thing is to take the person to the Poison Control Center or a health professional. The information determined above should be provided to the poison control center or health professional. This information is very essential for the poison control or health professional to provide proper medical treatment.
The poison control or health care professional will measure and monitor the patient’s vital signs, such as temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Immediate x-rays are essential to ensure that the battery is not stuck in the esophagus. Most swallowed batteries that pass through the esophagus will pass into the feces without complications. But if a battery gets stuck in the esophagus, it can cause a hole in the esophagus very quickly. To remove a battery stuck in the esophagus, the patient may also need an upper endoscopy.
The state of health of the person who ingested an alkaline battery depends on the amount of poison ingested and how quickly they received treatment. These patients may have a better chance of recovery if they get medical help right away. Full recovery is also possible if treated promptly. Alkaline batteries, especially alkaline button cells, should be stored out of the reach of small children. Dispose of used alkaline batteries according to the specified procedure.