Lithium batteries in the sizes of the 10 and 25 halalah coins have the greatest potential for damage because batteries in those sizes can get stuck in a child’s throat and cause immediate death through choking. But other damage can be caused when any lithium battery enters a child’s body and comes into contact with saliva, mucus or other secretions. For instance if a child eats a lithium battery and it lodges in the windpipe, when the lithium battery comes into contact with saliva this immediately triggers an electrical current, resulting in a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours. The child may not be choking, but the battery could be stuck lower down in the esophagus and that chemical reaction would be eating through the tissue until a hole is burnt in the windpipe.    

Dr. Toby Litovitz, M.D., executive and medical director of the National Capital Poison Center has advised that once the burning reaction begins, it can continue even after the battery is removed. Repairing the damage may require many surgeries and hospitalization including feeding tubes and breathing tubes. Batteries pushed into the nose, ear or traveling through the intestines can also cause severe tissue damage.

There are no statistics available for Saudi Arabia on this danger, but in the United States, the number of cases where children have been seriously hurt or have died has more than quadrupled in the past five years (2006-2010) compared to the five years prior (2001-2005). According to Dr. Litovitz, in 2010 in the US there were more than 3,400 lithium battery swallowing cases reported.

Most often, the lithium batteries children swallow have come out of remote control devices. Many gadgets are operated using mini remote control devices such as the one pictured here. Small children like to play with such devices and their little fingers can easily access the battery compartments. Parents may even give the child the car key remote for amusement. Mini reading lamps, calculators, clocks and singing greeting cards are other places that these batteries hide.

The damage being done by these batteries is increasing and the injury to children is 100 percent preventable. We need to work together to stop the misery. Parents must ensure that the battery compartment of devices equipped with lithium batteries is secure. Do not ever give such devices to a child. Keep them out of reach and spread the word about the danger to everyone you know.

If it is suspected that a child has swallowed a lithium battery follow these steps: