Button batteries, sometimes called coin batteries, are small round batteries that power various electronic devices such as watches, remote controls or small kid toys. They are small and shiny, which is why young children will sometimes grab them and put them in their mouths. But they can cause severe injury in a child if the button battery becomes lodged in the digestive tract. 

In this episode, Dr. Savithiri Ratnapalan talks about the dangers of swallowing button batteries, what parents can do immediately at home, and how button battery ingestion is managed in hospital.

Dr. Savithiri Ratnapalan is a pediatric emergency physician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She co-authored a practice article with Dr. Amy Zipursky. It is published in CMAJ: https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.210572

Podcast transcript: https://www.cmaj.ca/transcript-210572
-----------------------------------
This podcast episode is brought to you by Scotiabank Healthcare+. Learn more at: https://mdm.ca/promos/you-ve-come-a-long-way?utm_source=CMAJ&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=CTP&utm_content=PHD-----------------------------------
This podcast episode is brought to you by Dr. Bill. Dr. Bill makes billing on the go easy and pain free. Start your 45-day free trial today: www.drbill.app/cmaj
-----------------------------------
This podcast episode is brought to you by Shingrix. Learn more at: https://www.shingrix.ca/en-ca/index.html
-----------------------------------
Subscribe to CMAJ Podcasts on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. You can also follow us directly on our SoundCloud page or you can visit www.cmaj.ca/page/multimedia/podcasts.

Comments or questions? Text us.

Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something you'd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast.

You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole

X (in English): @CMAJ
X (en français): @JAMC
Facebook
Instagram: @CMAJ.ca

The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions