Last Thursday, 1.5-year-old Beyzanur, daughter of Sadık and İlknur Demirtaş living in Mersin, accidentally swallowed a battery while playing. After being taken to a special treatment center, Beyzanur was transferred to Mersin University Hospital.

An X-ray revealed a foreign object (the battery) in her stomach, prompting a surgical operation led by Mersin University Hospital Chief Physician and Pediatric Gastroenterologist Prof. Dr. Yusuf Usta and his team, successfully removing the battery and averting a life-threatening situation.

Prof. Dr. Usta, who performed the surgery, warned parents, stating, "A child who swallows a battery may show symptoms like a cold, hoarseness, and lack of appetite, which might not lead parents to suspect battery ingestion. In such cases, the child should not be forced to eat. In fact, if parents try to intervene without an X-ray when they suspect their child has swallowed a battery, it can lead to even more dangerous outcomes. The best solution in these situations is to take the child to the nearest hospital."

He also emphasized the importance of the time elapsed after the battery is swallowed, saying, "Children who are not taken for surgery within 2 hours can face serious complications."

65,000 Children Treated for Battery Ingestion in the Last 20 Years

A recent article published in the journal Pediatrics reported that in the last 20 years, 65,000 children who swallowed lithium batteries have been treated in hospitals. Many of the batteries ingested by children are watch batteries.

Experts state that many battery-operated devices entering our homes use watch batteries, which can look like candy to children due to their size.

It was reported that Beyzanur has returned to her normal life after receiving treatment at the hospital.