Hi, My Ds 22 months just now swallowed a penny. What should I do? Will this hurt him? I did a search on the internet, and found conflicting scenerios. Does anyone have any experience with this. Should I take him to the ER? Help I'm worried.

By Crystal915 on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 08:06 pm:

It'll pass, and he'll be fine, just let nature take it's course. If you don't see it in a couple of days, maybe a call to his doctor would be in order, but there are really only 2 options, he poops it out with or without laxatives, or they operate to remove it. It's HIGHLY unlikely they would want to operate. My cousin ate a couple quarters when we were little, she's a healthy adult now. The joys of being mommy!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 08:09 pm:

I think a penny would make it through the passageways, without a problem. Since he's probably still in diapers, you would easily be able to check. Let us know!

By Rayelle on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 08:43 pm:

My ds swallowed a quarter when he was 2. It was his first sentence- "I ate money". I didn't hink anything of it I thought I misunderstood but dh called the doc and they said they should do an xray. You could have knocked me over with a feather when they showed me the image of that quarter! I don't know how he didn't choke to death! I never saw it in his diaper but they did a few more xrays until they showed it was gone. They said since he didn't choke on it he'd probably be ok and pennies were definitely not something to worry about getting caught in the intestine, but a quarter possibly. He's fine. Scary though.

By Adilanylkoorb on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 08:53 pm:

I don't mean to make you worry, but I would call the doctor to see what they say since it was a penny that he swallowed. My niece swallowed a dime and the doctor told them it would pass. But the doctor also told them that if she had swallowed a penny, then they may have had to remove since it's pennies are made of copper.

By Crystal915 on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 12:10 am:

It probably wouldn't hurt to call the doc, but just so you know, pennies made in the last couple of decades are mostly other metals, and very little copper. I just read an article on pennies (actually it was from snopes.com) and it mentioned the specific year the US mint went to a less copper-based make up.

By Kaye on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 08:15 am:

The biggest dangers of swallowing stuff are:

toxins...and pennies aren't toxic
choking...it has passed through that
getting stuck in one of the sphincters

Typically a penny and a dime, and most a nickel can pass through with no issues. Quarters can get stuck in the upper stomach sphincter. But you know this from pain and discomfort.

So how is your child, is he breathing fine and feeling fine? If so, chances are he is fine.

I would call the doc and say, my son swallowed a penny, he seems fine. Is just watching for it to pass and okay choice?

I have found that if I ask, should I come in and sound worried, they have me come in. But I am clear that I would rather not come in, but will if it is the right choice, often then will reassure that choice.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 10:26 am:

[scott]

Minimal risk. The copper layer on the outside of the penny is NOT soluble in hydrochloric (stomach) acid. If the copper layer is intact, the penny will pass unreacted. If by some chance the copper layer is scratched, the zinc layer may react in stomach acid and form zinc chloride, which is mostly harmless but may briefly interfere with starch metabolism since ZnCl2 dissolves starch. Summary: minimal risk of toxicity. The only issue to consider here is the mechanical issue of passing a penny through the aforementioned anatomical structures.

[/scott]

By Tonya on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 03:55 pm:

Update us please is son OK

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 08:54 pm:

how are things going??