Foreign body nose in children presenting at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Pakistan

Objectives: To determine the patient management factors and patient outcomes in pediatric patients of foreign bodies in nose. Methodology: This descriptive study was performed in ENT Department, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from February, 2006 to January, 2007. Two hundred fifty seven cases of foreign bodies in nose in patients upto 12 years of age were included. Personal data, clinical features, investigations, management details and complications were recorded on a pre-designed proforma. In younger non cooperative cases foreign bodies were removed under general anesthesia, while in cooperative children it was removed without anesthesia by using suction, use of forceps and foreign body hook. Results: Among 257 cases of foreign bodies in nose 48.46% were between 4 to 8 years, with male preponderance i.e. 63%. Unilateral and bilateral presentations were seen in 95% and 5% cases respectively. Most common foreign body types were plastic beads, pearls, pieces of sponge and small round objects. There were two cases of alkaline battery lodged in the nose. General anesthesia had high success rate. Conclusion: Round shape foreign bodies and younger children are associated with poor outcome with removal attempts made under direct visualization. These cases should be referred directly to otolaryngologists for removal under general anesthesia.