Death from Aspiration of Foreign Body

About 300 children die each year from aspiration of foreign body in the USA. The most commonly aspirated objects are: peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs, vegetables, balloon, coins, pins, and pen tops. A candy from Asia called fruit gel snack has arrived in the USA under the brand names of Gel-ly Drop and Fruit poppers. This sweets are small flavored gel with fruit in the center.

A report from California showed three children who aspirated fruit gel snacks. A five year old, one year old, and 8 month old were involved. The five year old died.

The five year old was eating a fruit gel, the coughed and choked and collapsed. When the Emergency Technician arrived his pulse was absent. He examined this mouth and found a 1.5 cm piece of candy. Chest compression was done and he was brought to the ER. Three days later, he died.

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that fruit gels poses high risk for choking especially in infants, children, and the elderly.

[Reference: PEDIATRICS, March 2003, page 687]

Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP

Copyright 2003

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