Button Battery Ingestion

Swallowing of a disc-shaped battery, an emergency when the battery becomes lodged in the esophagus because rapid caustic tissue injury can occur.
Children may initially have few symptoms or develop drooling, pain, vomiting, coughing, difficulty swallowing or respiratory symptoms.
Urgent radiographs are used to locate the battery and distinguish it from other round foreign bodies such as coins.
An esophageal button battery generally requires immediate endoscopic removal followed by assessment for burns and delayed complications.
Serious injury can develop within hours, so suspected ingestion warrants emergency medical evaluation rather than home observation.