Choking in children

Apr 15, 2024

Choking is a critical event which can be a frightening situation for parents or caregivers. It is common in children between 1 to 5 years of age. In these children, choking is particularly dangerous due to their smaller airways and tendency to explore things orally, as they are naturally curious. Some small objects, such as peanuts, firm vegetable pieces, marbles, beads, whole grapes, popcorns, pills and worst of all-the button batteries, are just the right size to get stuck in a child's airway and cause choking. However, with proper education and preventive measures, many choking incidents can be avoided and cared for if such an emergency pops up. What is Choking? It occurs when an object blocks the airway, preventing proper and adequate airflow in and out the lungs. It's crucial for parents to recognize the signs of choking in children so that they can provide immediate and appropriate care. How wouldI know my child is choking? Suspect choking if your child has sudden onset difficulty to breath, coughing or gagging, inability to speak or cry, bluish discolouration of skin, and panicking. What to do if i find my child choking?

First of all do not panic, be calm and move the child to safe area(flat, firm surface, dry and clean) and decide if child is conscious and breathing.
If child is conscious, breathing and you can see the object in child’s mouth, try to remove it. Please don't poke blindly or repeatedly with your fingers as it could make things worse by pushing the object further-in and making it harder to remove.
If your child's coughing loudly, encourage them to lean forward and cough to bring up what they're choking on and don't leave them unattended.
If your child's coughing isn't effective (it's silent or they can't breathe in properly), shout for help immediately and check awareness, response when called to decide whether they're still conscious.
If your child's still conscious, but they're either not coughing or their coughing isn't effective, use brisk back blows between the shoulder blades.( Visit Our Youtube channel and search for chocking in children for demonstration of procedures)
If back blows don't relieve the choking and your baby or child is still conscious,give chest thrusts to infants under 1 year or abdominal thrusts to children over 1 year. This will create an artificial cough, increasing pressure in the chest and helping to dislodge the object.

Following chest or abdominal thrusts, reassess your child:

If the object still isn't dislodged and your child's still conscious, continue the sequence of back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts.Call out or send for help, if you're still on your own.
Don't leave the child unattended.
Call ambulance if the blockage doesn't relieve after trying back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts. Keep trying this cycle until help arrives.
Even if the object has come out, visit the emergency room for further care. Part of the object might have been left behind, or your child might have been hurt by the procedure.

Unconscious child with choking:

If a choking child is, or becomes, unconscious, put them on a firm, flat surface and shout for help.
Call an ambulance, putting the phone on speakerphone so your hands are free.
Don't leave the child unattended at any stage.
Open the child's mouth. If the object's clearly visible and you can grasp it easily, remove it.
Start CPR- Chest Compressions

Preventive Measures: As we all know prevention is better than cure. To avoid choking incidents in children, it requires a proactive approach from caregivers. a) Childproofing the environment: Keep small objects as listed above and other choking hazards out of reach of young children. Regularly inspect the environment for potential choking hazards and take necessary precautions. b) Always supervise young children, especially during mealtime and playtime. c) Age-appropriate foods: Offer slightly mashed food to younger kids. Avoid giving them foods that are hard, round, or difficult to chew. d) Safe eating habits: Encourage children to sit down while eating and to chew their food thoroughly. Discourage talking, laughing, or playing with food in their mouths to minimize the risk of choking. e) CPR Training: Parents and caregivers should consider undergoing CPR training to learn life-saving techniques in case of a choking emergency. Quick and appropriate action can make a significant difference in the outcome of a choking incident. Choking is a preventable yet potentially life-threatening emergency in children. By understanding the risks, learning to recognize the signs, and implementing preventive measures, parents can significantly reduce the likelihood of choking hazards. It's essential for parents to be informed, maintain a safe environment, and be prepared to act swiftly in case of an emergency. By taking these proactive steps, parents can help keep their children safe from choking hazards.

Dr Madhumithra D S

Consultant - Pediatrics & PICU

Rainbow Children's Hospital Sarjapur

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Choking in children

Dr Madhumithra D S

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