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Swallowed or Inhaled Objects

Overview

When you swallow food, liquid, or an object, what is swallowed passes from your mouth through your throat, down your (esophagus), and into your stomach. A swallowed object will usually pass through the rest of your digestive tract without problems. It will show up in your stool in a few days. If food or a nonfood item gets stuck along the way, you may have pain when swallowing or trouble swallowing, even when swallowing your saliva. You may need medical care right away.

Sometimes when you try to swallow, the swallowed substance "goes down the wrong way." It gets breathed in to your windpipe or lungs (aspirated). This happens most often in children who are younger than 3 years and in adults who are older than age 50. When you breathe in (inhale) a substance, coughing is your body's normal response. It's the way your body tries to clear your throat and windpipe. The cough is helpful, and it may clear up the problem. Inhaling a substance into your lungs can cause lung inflammation and an infection (aspiration pneumonia).

The situation may be more serious when a person:

  • Has signs of choking (complete airway obstruction). When the windpipe is blocked, air can't move in and out of the lungs. The person can't talk, cry, breathe, or cough. A blocked windpipe is a life-threatening emergency.
    • The choking rescue procedure (Heimlich maneuver) is used to clear a blockage in adults and children older than 1 year.
    • Back blows and chest thrusts are used in babies younger than 1 year.
  • Has signs of a partially blocked windpipe. When the windpipe is partly blocked, some air can still move in and out of the lungs. The person may gag, cough, or have trouble breathing. Coughing will often pop out the food or object and relieve the symptoms. The choking rescue procedure is not recommended when the windpipe is partly blocked.
  • Has an object stuck in the esophagus. Most swallowed objects pass through the digestive tract without any problem within a few days. But a swallowed object can scratch, irritate, or poke a hole in (puncture) the digestive tract.
  • Has swallowed a poisonous object, such as a wild mushroom, a plant, or a chemical.
  • Has swallowed a button disc battery, a magnet, or an object with lead. Batteries, magnets, and small objects with lead can be easily swallowed, especially by children. A disc battery that is swallowed can burn, corrode, or completely destroy tissue in the upper digestive tract. Magnets can stick to the bowel and cause a blockage or a hole to form. An object with lead may cause lead poisoning. If you think someone has swallowed a disc battery, do not cause vomiting. Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 right away and arrange for medical care.
    • Swallowing 2 teaspoons of honey right away coats the battery and reduces damage to the esophagus.
    • Two teaspoons of honey can be swallowed every 10 minutes for up to 6 doses.
    • Note: Only give honey to a child older than 12 months and if the battery was swallowed in the past 12 hours.
  • Has swallowed an object that doesn't come out in the stool within a few days.

About 80% to 90% of swallowed objects, like chewing gum, are harmless and pass through the digestive tract without problems. But some types of objects can cause more serious problems when they are swallowed. These objects include:

  • Sharp objects, such as open safety pins, bones, toothpicks, needles, razor blades, or broken thermometers.
  • Long objects.
  • Large objects that may get stuck in the digestive tract and need to be removed.

Your doctor may recommend tests such as an X-ray, endoscopy, or barium swallow. These tests can help find the object if it doesn't come out in the stool or if an inhaled object isn't coughed out. A special metal detector might be used. It can help locate a metal object, such as a coin, inside the body. Your doctor may then recommend a procedure to remove the object. Or your doctor may encourage you to keep checking the stool to be sure the object passes out of the body.

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Check Your Symptoms

Have you swallowed or inhaled an object?
Yes
Swallowed or inhaled object
No
Swallowed or inhaled object
How old are you?
Less than 12 years
Less than 12 years
12 years or older
12 years or older
Are you male or female?
Male
Male
Female
Female

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

  • If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
  • If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
  • If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.
Have you swallowed or inhaled something that might be poisonous?
Yes
Ingested known or suspected poison
No
Ingested known or suspected poison
Did you pass out completely (lose consciousness)?
Yes
Lost consciousness
No
Lost consciousness
If you are answering for someone else: Is the person unconscious now?
(If you are answering this question for yourself, say no.)
Yes
Unconscious now
No
Unconscious now
Are you back to your normal level of alertness?
After passing out, it's normal to feel a little confused, weak, or lightheaded when you first wake up or come to. But unless something else is wrong, these symptoms should pass pretty quickly and you should soon feel about as awake and alert as you normally do.
Yes
Has returned to normal after loss of consciousness
No
Has returned to normal after loss of consciousness
Did the loss of consciousness occur during the past 24 hours?
Yes
Loss of consciousness in past 24 hours
No
Loss of consciousness in past 24 hours
Are you having trouble breathing (more than a stuffy nose)?
Yes
Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose
No
Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose
Would you describe the breathing problem as severe, moderate, or mild?
The symptoms in an adult or older child are different than the symptoms in a young child or baby.
Severe
Severe difficulty breathing
Moderate
Moderate difficulty breathing
Mild
Mild difficulty breathing
Have you swallowed a disc battery, a magnet, or an object that contains a lot of lead, such as certain toys or a fishing sinker?
Yes
Swallowed disc battery or magnet or lead object
No
Swallowed disc battery or magnet or lead object
Have you swallowed an object that was sharp (like a toothpick, pin, bone, or needle) or long?
Long means at least 2 in. (5 cm) for adults and older children and at least 1.25 in. (3 cm) for babies and young children.
Yes
Swallowed sharp or long object
No
Swallowed sharp or long object
Do you have pain in your throat, chest, or belly after swallowing or inhaling an object?
Yes
Pain in throat, chest or belly since swallowing or inhaling object
No
Pain in throat, chest or belly since swallowing or inhaling object
How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?
Signs of pain in an adult or child are different than signs of pain in a baby or toddler.
8 to 10: Severe pain
Severe pain
5 to 7: Moderate pain
Moderate pain
1 to 4: Mild pain
Mild pain
Have you had mild pain for more than an hour?
Yes
Mild pain for more than 1 hour
No
Mild pain for more than 1 hour
Within the past 2 days, did an object get caught in your throat and cause you to choke?
Yes
Choking episode within past 2 days
No
Choking episode within past 2 days
Are you coughing or wheezing?
Yes
Coughing or wheezing now
No
Coughing or wheezing now
Are you coughing up blood?
This means blood that is coming up from your chest or throat. Blood that is draining down from your nose into your throat (because of a nosebleed, for example) is not the same thing.
Yes
Coughing up blood
No
Coughing up blood
Were back blows or the Heimlich maneuver used to dislodge the food or object from the throat?
Yes
Back blows or Heimlich maneuver was used
No
Back blows or Heimlich maneuver was used
Are you gagging or having trouble swallowing?
Yes
Gagging or having trouble swallowing
No
Gagging or having trouble swallowing
Are you drooling and not able to swallow?
Yes
Drooling and unable to swallow
No
Drooling and unable to swallow
Do you think an object may be stuck in your throat?
Yes
Feels like object is stuck in throat
No
Feels like object is stuck in throat
Have you vomited?
Yes
Vomiting
No
Vomiting
Have you vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds?
If there is only a streak or two of blood that you are sure came from your nose or mouth, you are not vomiting blood.
Yes
Has vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds
No
Has vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds
Have you vomited more than once?
Yes
Vomited 2 or more times
No
Vomited less than 2 times
Has it felt like something has been stuck in your throat for more than 30 minutes?
Yes
Object in throat for more than 30 minutes
No
Object in throat for more than 30 minutes
Have you had any changes in your bowel movements after swallowing an object?
Yes
Changes in bowel movements after swallowing an object
No
Changes in bowel movements after swallowing an object
Are your stools black or bloody?
Yes
Black or bloody stools
No
Black or bloody stools
Have you had:
At least 1 stool that is mostly black or bloody?
At least 1 stool mostly black or bloody
At least 1 stool that is partly black or bloody?
At least 1 stool partly black or bloody
Streaks of blood in your stool?
Streaks of blood in stool
Have you swallowed a coin?
Yes
Swallowed coin
No
Swallowed coin
Did you swallow the coin more than 24 hours ago?
Most coins pass through the body without a problem in 24 hours. If you don't pass the coin in this time frame, it's best to follow up with your doctor.
Yes
Swallowed coin more than 24 hours ago
No
Swallowed coin more than 24 hours ago
Has the coin passed out of your body in your stool?
Yes
Coin has passed out of body in stool
No
Coin has passed out of body in stool
Do you still have concerns more than a week after swallowing an object?
Yes
Concerns about object swallowed more than 1 week ago
No
Concerns about object swallowed more than 1 week ago

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

  • Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
  • Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
  • Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
  • Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
  • Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

  • Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
  • Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.
HomeTreatment
RelatedInformation
WhereToGo

Blood in the stool can come from anywhere in the digestive tract, such as the stomach or intestines. Depending on where the blood is coming from and how fast it is moving, it may be bright red, reddish brown, or black like tar.

A little bit of bright red blood on the stool or on the toilet paper is often caused by mild irritation of the rectum. For example, this can happen if you have to strain hard to pass a stool or if you have a hemorrhoid.

A large amount of blood in the stool may mean a more serious problem is present. For example, if there is a lot of blood in the stool, not just on the surface, you may need to call your doctor right away. If there are just a few drops on the stool or in the diaper, you may need to let your doctor know today to discuss your symptoms. Black stools may mean you have blood in the digestive tract that may need treatment right away, or may go away on its own.

Certain medicines and foods can affect the color of stool. Diarrhea medicines (such as Pepto-Bismol) and iron tablets can make the stool black. Eating lots of beets may turn the stool red. Eating foods with black or dark blue food coloring can turn the stool black.

If you take aspirin or some other medicine (called a blood thinner) that prevents blood clots, it can cause some blood in your stools. If you take a blood thinner and have ongoing blood in your stools, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms.

Pain in adults and older children

  • Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
  • Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
  • Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

  • Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
  • Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
  • Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:

  • You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk (mild difficulty breathing), or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all (severe difficulty breathing).
  • It may be getting hard to breathe with activity (mild difficulty breathing), or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you’re at rest (severe difficulty breathing).

Severe trouble breathing means:

  • You cannot talk at all.
  • You have to work very hard to breathe.
  • You feel like you can't get enough air.
  • You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly.

Moderate trouble breathing means:

  • It's hard to talk in full sentences.
  • It's hard to breathe with activity.

Mild trouble breathing means:

  • You feel a little out of breath but can still talk.
  • It's becoming hard to breathe with activity.

Severe trouble breathing means:

  • The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard.
  • The child's nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath.
  • The child seems to be tiring out.
  • The child seems very sleepy or confused.

Moderate trouble breathing means:

  • The child is breathing a lot faster than usual.
  • The child has to take breaks from eating or talking to breathe.
  • The nostrils flare or the belly moves in and out at times when the child breathes.

Mild trouble breathing means:

  • The child is breathing a little faster than usual.
  • The child seems a little out of breath but can still eat or talk.

Disc batteries are small, round batteries used in toys, cameras, watches, and other devices. Because of the chemicals they can release, they can cause serious problems if they are swallowed or get stuck in an ear or the nose. Small magnets used in household items and objects that contain a lot of lead (such as bullets, buckshot, fishing weights and sinkers, and some toys) also can cause problems if swallowed.

  • If a disc battery is stuck in the ear or nose:
    • The battery needs to be removed right away—within 1 hour if possible.
    • Use tweezers to try to remove the battery. If you can't remove it, get medical help.
  • If you have swallowed a disc battery, magnet, or lead object:
    • Get medical help right away.
    • Do not try to vomit.
    • Do not eat or drink anything.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

  • Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  • If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
  • If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
  • If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.
HomeTreatment
RelatedInformation
WhereToGo

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

  • Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  • If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
  • You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
    • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
    • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.
Poisoning

Self-Care

Here are some things you can do at home that help relieve discomfort after you swallow an object into your digestive tract.

  • Don't cause (induce) vomiting.

    It could cause you to inhale (aspirate) the object into your windpipe or lungs.

  • Drink fluids.

    If swallowing fluids is easy, try eating soft bread or a banana. If eating soft bread or a banana is easy, try adding other foods. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may help move the swallowed object through the digestive tract. Keep drinking more fluids until the object has passed in your stool. Extra fluid will help the object move through the digestive tract. The object should pass within a few days. Watch your stools to see if the object has passed. Don't use a laxative unless your doctor tells you to.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor now or seek care if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

  • New shortness of breath, wheezing, or moderate coughing.
  • Can't swallow own saliva.
  • Large amount of blood in vomit.

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

  • Mild shortness of breath, wheezing, or mild coughing.
  • New or worse pain in the throat, chest, or belly.
  • New or worse trouble swallowing.
  • New vomiting or small amount of blood in vomit.
  • New blood in the stool.
  • The swallowed object does not pass in the stool within a few days.
  • Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

Learn more

Preparing For Your Appointment

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared for your appointment.

Credits

Current as of: October 19, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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