Swallowed button batteries: is there a consensus on management?
Article Abstract:
Button batteries are the small batteries commonly used to power digital watches, pocket calculators, and the like. Ingestion of button batteries is fairly common among children. The consequences of swallowing these batteries can be quite serious: the heavy metals (such as mercury and zinc) and strong alkalis that make up the battery can cause poisoning and severe burns, respectively, and the voltage generated by the battery can cause burns of the gastrointestinal tract. There have been several reported deaths from swallowing button batteries, although the batteries are thought for the most part to pass through the digestive tract without causing any harm. In order to discover a consensus among physicians regarding type of treatment administered, a questionnaire was mailed to members of the endoscopic and pediatric sections of the British Society of Gastroenterology. Of the 608 questionnaires that were sent out, 312 were completed and returned. Thirty-six percent of the respondents said they were not concerned about this occurrence, and gave no treatment. Six percent administered medication (such as antacids, emetics, and laxatives) for the condition; 48 percent said the batteries should be removed under certain circumstances; and 9 percent were unaware of how the problem should be managed. Of the physicians who felt that batteries should be removed under some circumstances, 78, 72, and 48 percent removed them from the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, respectively. Heavy metal poisoning had been seen by 4.6 percent of the respondents, and it was concluded that the published reports to date may have underestimated the frequency of heavy metal poisoning. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Gut
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0017-5749
Year: 1990
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Don't drop dairy from your diet
Article Abstract:
Negative reports about the nutritional drawbacks of milk and other dairy products have been mostly exaggerated. Dairy foods are an important source of calcium, which is an effective weapon against bone diseases and a possible inhibitor of high blood pressure and colon cancer.
Publication Name: Parade
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN:
Year: 1996
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College High-Jinks
Article Abstract:
United States community colleges were set up to provide education for all basic skills. They are a way for the disadvantaged to advance. They vary widely as to quality. In California, funding them is an issue.
Publication Name: Economist
Subject: Economics
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1984
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