As any mom of a toddler knows, no matter how careful you are, they have the uncanny ability to find things they shouldn’t – and to put things in places they’re not meant to! Take the case of a New Zealand boy, who had a piece of LEGO stuck up his nose for two years.
According to the NZ Herald, little Sameer recently found the toy while sniffing a delicious cupcake.
Apparently, the boy did tell his parents that he had put the LEGO up his nose two years ago, but when they took a look, they couldn’t see anything. The doctor also couldn’t find anything stuck up there, so they thought he might have swallowed it.
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According to the report, they all forgot about the incident because Sameer never complained about anything further. That is until a few weeks ago.
Taking a sniff of the cupcake before tucking in, he felt a sharp pain. His parents thought he’s sniffed up some crumbs and told him to blow his nose. But when he did, the missing piece of LEGO came out!
So what to do when your child sticks something up his nose?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Foreign bodies of the ear, nose, and respiratory and digestive tracts are a common problem among children, particularly those younger than 5 years.”
The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that the most common foreign bodies are food, plastic toys, and small household items.
If you’re faced with a similar situation, this is what you need to do:
- If you can see the item, try to grip it with your fingers and pull it out. You can also apply gentle pressure to the unobstructed nostril and have your child blow her nose.
- Don’t use tweezers or another tool to try to dislodge the object. This is because you could end up pushing it further into the nasal cavity and\or cause more damage.
- Do take your child to the nearest doctor or emergency room, if you can’t take it out.
Content editor and writer on Living & Loving, Sonya has over 25 years experience in the media industry. She edited Living & Loving magazine for six-and-a-half years and is the former editor of Longevity magazine. She’s won numerous media industry awards and is passionate about the health and wellbeing of moms and children.
Outside of work, she enjoys trying out recipes, reading crime mysteries and thrillers, practicing yoga, and exploring new destinations.
Learn more about Sonya Naudé.
