Impacted oesophageal coin in Nigerian children

Abstract

Aim: To highlight the health hazards associated with ingestion of the readily available but relatively worthless Nigerian coin by children. Methods: Medical records of cases of impacted oesophageal foreign bodies occurring in childhood over a seven year period were retrospectively analysed. Results: The Nigerian coins were implicated in 14 cases. In 57.2% retention occurred at the upper third of the oesophagus while the middle was affected in 6 (42.8%) cases. Mean (±SEM) age was 4.60±0.60 years while the modal age bracket was 3.0-6.0 years. About 60.0% of those affected were males. Removal of coins was achieved in 13 (92.9%) children through oesophagoscopy while case fatality rate was 14.3%. Mean hospital stay, post-op, was 14.4 ± 9.9 days. Conclusions: As a result of the health hazards, prohibitive cost of care for such patients, unwarranted disruption in the social life of the family of the affected child vis a vis the relative economic worthlessness of the Nigerian coin today, it is suggested that they be withdrawn from circulation.

Keywords

• nigerian coin
• oesophagus
• children