Foreign Object in the Body: Symptoms, Risks, and Urgent Action

Symptoms vary by object location, size, and duration but commonly include:

• Local: Pain, swelling, redness, warmth, bruising, pus/discharge.
• GI tract: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, obstruction (no stool/gas), bleeding.
• Airway: Cough, stridor, dyspnea, hoarseness, cyanosis.
• Systemic: Fever, chills, sepsis if infected.

Immediate Steps

1. Do not attempt removal if deep, near vital structures, or causing severe symptoms.
2. Seek emergency care for airway, GI obstruction, deep penetration, or signs of infection.
3. Superficial splinters: Clean tweezers, wash, antibiotic ointment, monitor.

Medical Management

• Imaging (X-ray, CT, ultrasound) to locate.
• Removal: endoscopic, bronchoscopic, surgical, or image-guided.
• Antibiotics if infected.
• Tetanus prophylaxis if contaminated.

Delay increases infection, migration, and tissue damage risk.