The situation when a child swallowed gum can happen to anyone. After all, children will not refuse delicious, but they still do not quite understand how to properly handle chewing gum. Or they might just get distracted. Parents, on the other hand, recall with horror stories about a lump of food that will forever remain in the stomach or stick together the intestines.
Consequences of swallowed gum
In fact, there is no reason to panic. Although the consequences can still be, so the child must be observed. Sometimes swallowed gum can cause:
- allergic reactions;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- food poisoning.
It is also possible that chewing gum may enter the respiratory tract. Most likely, the baby will simply clear his throat and breathing will return to normal, nothing needs to be done. In the case when the baby continues to cough, you can try to help him: tilt his head forward and make a few claps with the base of the palm between the shoulder blades. If the foreign object does not come out, you must continue to provide first aid and call an ambulance. It is better not to try to get the gum on your own, so as not to push it deeper.
What happens to chewing gum in the body?
What should parents do if their child swallowed chewing gum? Usually it is enough to wait until it comes out naturally. Depending on its composition, it can be digested completely or partially under the influence of acids and enzymes. The chewing gum will not get stuck along the way, it will lose its sticky properties and will be excreted from the body in an almost original form or a semi-liquid mass. So you can safely forget about the incident. To aid digestion, drink plenty of fluids and eat fiber-rich foods such as vegetables.
Most often, a small amount of chewing gum remains without consequences. But sometimes there can be a reaction, especially if the whole package has been eaten. Sometimes, when a child swallows gum, an allergy appears. It is caused by some components, such as flavor additives or flavors. At the same time, if the baby has a tendency to allergic reactions, a rash or nasal congestion is likely to make itself felt even during chewing. If symptoms are severe, an antihistamine may be given.
Digestive disorders due to swallowed gum
Chewing gum can be difficult for children to digest, resulting in constipation or diarrhea. This happens rarely, and mostly when an impressive amount of the substance is eaten. This happens, especially with children - they can get carried away or swallow a package or two on a bet. In this case, actions should be aimed at cleansing the intestines. You can put an enema, with constipation, include laxative foods in the diet. Sufficient fluid must be provided. This is especially important for diarrhea, as dehydration should not be allowed.
If a child swallows gum and vomits, they may have food poisoning. It happens when chewing gum is made from low-quality or even toxic elements. Some chewing gums contain caffeine, which in large quantities can cause palpitations and aggressive behavior in children. You should do the same as with any other poisoning: give the baby plenty of water to drink and induce vomiting to flush the stomach. Sorbents will be useful for removing harmful substances.
Of course, chewing gum is not necessary, and it is better to avoid this. But if this happened, then you should remain calm. Usually you don’t need to do anything, the body will cope with the situation in a natural way, especially when it comes to one or two plates. But still, for some time it is better to control the condition of the child. And if unwanted symptoms appear, such as diarrhea or vomiting, it is better to consult a doctor.
Everyone knows that any mother of a small child who has already begun to walk has reasons to worry a hundred times a day. A restless child needs an eye and an eye. Mom knows - if a suspicious silence reigns in the room where the baby is located for more than two minutes, it means that he has already found something to his liking and is playing with might and main. So, if parents are distracted for a second, the child is already tasting daddy's running shoes, decorating new expensive wallpaper in the living room with watercolors, turning mom's notebook into scraps flying around the house, or putting things in order in the kitchen, cheerfully pouring cereals from ten cans.
However, if such fun does not cause damage to health, this is not so bad. Mom will threaten a curious baby with her finger, taking away a toy, and calm down on that. It is much worse if a child puts a small detail from a kinder surprise into his nose or into his ear. Or, for example, swallowed gum. This is already a reason for panic - after all, parents immediately imagine the worst and begin to frantically run around the apartment, not knowing what to do.
The child swallowed gum: what to do?
Of course, at this moment, disturbing thoughts rush through the minds of mom and dad. But, strange as it may sound, just in such a situation it is necessary to remain calm and sober of mind, to act quickly and confidently. So what happens if you swallow gum? This will be discussed below.
In principle, the case is typical. The kid has already learned to open bags, turn out pockets, pull out drawers, grab everything that is bad and immediately drag it into his mouth. He could well get to the chewing gum, even if it was securely hidden in the chiffonier. Moreover, fragrant pads for some reason always attract children almost magically. Most likely, earlier he had repeatedly asked to give him chewing gum, and each time his mother answered with a firm refusal. And then such a miracle - the coveted, delicious-smelling gums lie unattended, useless to anyone! How not to chew them? In general, one way or another, the deed is done - the child swallowed the gum.
Solution
It's too late to reproach yourself for indiscretion - you need to take action. The first step is to check if the baby has eaten the whole pack. If not, you can exhale calmly, nothing terrible will happen. What happens if you swallow one or two pieces of gum? Grandmother, groaning and groaning, for sure, will immediately begin to lament that now the unfortunate child will certainly be cut out for appendicitis. Or, clutching at his heart, he will tell a story that such a chemical muck as chewing gum will be in the body for seven years, harming the health of the child. But do not rush to believe this - usually the gum just comes out naturally.
The most important thing is that the baby did not choke, and the rest is nonsense. The gum will not be digested in the stomach - therefore, it will enter the intestines and leave the child's body from there. So what do you do if you swallow gum? It turns out, nothing? If the baby is cheerful, cheerful and ready for new pranks, then yes, everything is in order, it did not harm him in any way.
However, it will be useful to watch the child. And if there are any strange symptoms like lethargy, redness, rash, nausea, shortness of breath or swelling - you should immediately call a doctor. You never know what chemicals were used in the manufacture of these chewing gums - maybe they caused an allergy in a child, or simply his body does not perceive any of the components that make up the gum. This also happens. And here, of course, you will need the help of a qualified specialist - in no case should you self-medicate!
What will happen next with the child? How will what happened affect his life?
In order to finally reassure moms, let's talk about what will happen if you swallow gum, from the point of view of physiological processes. Basically, what is chewing gum? This is a kind of viscous substance stuffed with sweeteners, flavors, dyes and flavor enhancers. It consists of resins, fats, wax and emulsion. No wonder the stomach can't digest it. But this does not mean at all that she will remain there for years. Our digestive system is a tricky and subtle thing, it will certainly find a way to get rid of an unwanted object.
If you think about it, it happens that a person can accidentally swallow not only chewing gum, but also a cherry stone, a seed shell, a piece of a nut peel, and similar inedible things. However, a cherry tree has not yet sprouted in anyone's stomach and a sunflower has not bloomed. Yes, chewing gum is sticky, and ignorant people may well assume that it will stick to the walls of the stomach and remain there for a long time. But, while working, this organ constantly contracts and relaxes, and with the help of these actions it will still force the ill-fated gum to move into the intestines. And from there it, without being digested, will come out naturally in a maximum of a couple of days.
Results
So, let's summarize. What to do if you swallow gum? Already nothing. Is that next time it is better to hide a pack of pillows from an inquisitive baby. And the ideal option is that he does not know what it is at all. At his age, it's completely useless.
What happens if you swallow gum? If the child does not have allergies or individual intolerance to the components included in it, then nothing terrible will happen. It is much worse if, God forbid, this tenacious substance gets into the hair and gets tangled there. Especially if you have a girl with long thick curls.
Then, for sure, write wasted, you will have to cut out a whole shred. However, if the baby has eaten too much gum, it is still better to see a doctor - too much chewing gum, once in the stomach, can lead to constipation or even blockage of the digestive system.
A small conclusion
That, in fact, is all that can be said. As you can see, there is no particular reason for panic - as they say, who does not happen to! It remains only to wish good health to your child, and to his mother - patience, attentiveness, inexhaustible energy and as few stressful situations as possible.
Chewing gum is a sweet that children love. The child likes it because of the pleasant smell, and because of the taste, and because of the unusual viscous consistency. Often chewing gum is not only a treat, but also a toy, which causes concern for parents. The baby may choke on the gum, choke, or accidentally swallow it. It is worth figuring out what needs to be done in such situations and whether it is dangerous for the child's body.
What are the dangers of swallowing chewing gum?
Chewing gum contains components that are partially digested in the stomach. And what is not split is sent through the digestive tract and comes out naturally. You should not worry about a child who accidentally swallowed sweets, since the incident will not affect either his well-being or health. The body will need more time to remove the chewing mass, but this will happen without harm to the internal organs.
Raising a panic is rational in two cases:
- If the baby has swallowed a large amount of chewing gum. For example, more than one pack.
- If he has diseases of the digestive tract or individual intolerance to the components.
It is worth worrying if the person who swallowed the gum suffers from diverticulitis, which causes narrowing of the intestine, or Crohn's disease. In this case, chewing gum will clog already narrow areas, which is fraught with discomfort, constipation, spasms.
So, What happens if you swallow too much gum? It should be noted that these symptoms are quite rare. And only in those cases when the baby ate several chewing plates. A child who has swallowed a very large amount of chewing gum is expected to have the following possible consequences:
Food poisoning caused by swallowing chewing gum is only possible if the product is of poor quality. Manufacturers may use harmful substitutes, unknown food additives, and other ingredients of little known origin. At the moment, the number of companies producing such chewing gum is minimized. However, you should give preference to buying sweets from well-known companies.
What to do if a child swallows gum?
If by chance a baby swallowed chewing gum, only a doctor will advise what to do. You should not hope that the mass will be excreted by the body on its own. In this case, a visit to the doctor is vital. Parents should keep chewing gum away from babies, as young children swallow gum immediately, feeling the pleasant aroma and sweet aftertaste.
What to do if a baby swallows gum:
- For diarrhea, give medicine.
- In case of allergic attacks - lubricate skin redness with special creams.
- For constipation - do an enema as prescribed by a doctor.
- With nausea - give more water to drink, do not stop vomiting.
As mentioned above, if a child swallows gum, then it will come out naturally. You should only worry if the baby has eaten a whole pack or several packs. This is very dangerous for human health, especially if he is young. An urgent consultation with a doctor and monitoring of the child's condition is necessary.
The main thing that a parent should do in such a situation is to make every effort to normalize the work of a young organism. It is advisable to drink more water and eat more high-fiber foods - cereals, vegetables, legumes. More detailed recommendations will be given by the doctor, depending on the specific situation and the well-being of the baby.
Precautionary measures
To avoid such incidents, you must adhere to the following rules:
Parents should not neglect safety measures if the baby has eaten chewing gum. Even if there was a small amount of sweetness in the stomach, it is necessary to monitor the condition and well-being of children. You do not need to do anything specific - it is important to make sure that baby feels good. It is also desirable to make sure that the mass has left his body.
Even the most attentive and caring parents can overlook their child. Toddlers love to put everything in their mouths, especially if it looks attractive, and even smells delicious. Often chewing gum gets into the mouth for such reasons. And if in adulthood there is a clear understanding of how to use this product, the child may still not fully understand or not know these rules at all. And then the parents are faced with a nuisance - chewing gum is swallowed. What to do in such a situation?
Possible consequences
If such a situation has developed, then you should not panic - most likely, no physiological abnormalities will occur on this basis, and the chewing gum itself will successfully leave the body with other food. It can come out completely or partially digested or even in its original state - it all depends on the composition of a particular chewing gum. The environment in the stomach, or rather the combination of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid, is so strong that it copes with most varieties of chewing gum without much difficulty in a few hours, and this applies to all age groups. It certainly won't get stuck half way.
Doctor's note: There is a common belief that swallowed gum will remain in the body forever unless it is surgically removed. It is also believed that it can stick to the wall of the stomach or even glue the intestinal lumen. Do not panic, as these stories are horror stories and have nothing to do with reality. Yes, there are many chemical components in the composition of such a product and there is nothing useful in its presence in the digestive system, but it is also so terrible.
And although in most cases such an incident ends safely, in some situations some negative reactions from the body are possible:
- allergic reaction;
- stool disorder (diarrhea or constipation);
- food poisoning.
An allergy can occur as a reaction to the composition of the product - a child may have intolerance to one of its components. Also, this is often how the body reacts to swallowing gum in large quantities. If there is intolerance, then the symptoms of an allergic reaction will not keep you waiting (often they are skin manifestations).
Experts say that every chewing gum contains some kind of sweetener, and one of the side effects of its use is a laxative effect. When it enters the body in large quantities, it provokes an upset stool. Also, large masses of swallowed chewing gum can provoke constipation.
Food poisoning is a consequence of swallowing a product containing harmful toxic or poisonous components. Unfortunately, chewing gums that are not of good quality may well contain hazardous components.
The reaction can be very different, but often a negative effect is achieved when swallowing gum in large quantities. In the vast majority of cases, nothing dangerous for the child's condition will happen.
Actions of parents
Upon learning of the incident, parents should begin to carefully monitor the condition of the child and his well-being. If everything goes well, then after 6 hours the body will get rid of the accidentally swallowed product and you won’t have to go to the hospital. But if signs of a negative reaction are observed, then you should not delay going to the hospital.
If the specialist establishes that an allergic response has begun, then it will be necessary to take antihistamines until the allergen is completely removed from the body. Food poisoning will require absorbent drugs and drugs to restore the microflora of the stomach and intestines. With diarrhea or constipation, separate measures are taken to eliminate symptoms.
A variant not associated with the digestive system - the child may choke on chewing gum, which by mistake instead of the esophagus got into the respiratory tract. The usual reaction to such a situation is a strong cough, due to which a foreign object comes out. If the cough does not subside and the gum does not come out, then you need to urgently call an ambulance. It is impossible to try to get the product on your own, even if it is viewed, - by such actions you can move the lump even further and thereby worsen the situation.
Despite the fact that swallowing chewing gum almost never has negative consequences, the chance of such an outcome is still likely, so you need to be especially careful with a child with a similar problem. The elimination of a negative reaction is determined by the nature of the difficulties that the ingestion led to.
It would seem that something terrible will happen from swallowing chewing gum? We all accidentally or deliberately swallowed it in childhood. However, not everything is so simple and unambiguous. If a child swallows gum, the parent subconsciously worries and fears the consequences. Is this situation harmless or, on the contrary, terrible?
Swallowed chewing gum can cause serious health problems for the child.
In childhood, adults scared us that if you swallow gum, it will not leave the body and stick to the walls of the stomach. Or it will be even worse - it will sink into the intestines and stick it together. Then there is no need for surgery. But this is a delusion.
What is included in modern chewing gum:
- sweeteners;
- flavors;
- wax;
- gum;
- taste stabilizers;
- dyes;
- emulsifiers.
One swallowed chewing gum will be digested in the stomach without harm to health.
In the bouquet of chemical components there is nothing useful for the child's body, but there is nothing particularly toxic either. If a child swallows gum, it will be easily digested in the stomach under the influence of digestive enzymes and juices. It will take 6 to 10 hours to process chewing gum. In extreme cases, it will come out, after a day, naturally. The gum cannot glue or damage anything along the way.
The child swallowed some chewing gum
If you swallow one chewing gum, there will be no health consequences. But it happens that the baby eats a whole package, and then complains of feeling unwell. Among the possible consequences of swallowing gum are:
- food poisoning;
- food allergies;
- diarrhea/constipation.
When a baby swallows a large amount of chewing gum, parents need to sound the alarm and seek help from a doctor.
A few swallowed chewing gums can harm a child's body.
Food poisoning
For chewing gum to cause poisoning, it must be swallowed in large quantities. The components of modern chewing gums very rarely cause severe intoxication of the body. However, parents cannot know for sure what is included in the composition of the gum, how good it is, and what will happen to the baby. The child's body can react to a foreign substance in different ways.
If a child is suspected of being poisoned, give him 250-500 ml of water and induce a gag reflex.
Thus, the stomach is freed from toxins. If vomiting cannot be induced, and the baby's condition causes concern, you should immediately go to the hospital.
Allergic reaction
The components of chewing gums very often provoke allergies in children. At risk are children prone to allergic reactions. You need to find out how much the child swallowed this product. If a large amount of chewing gum enters the body, there may be a threat not only to health, but also to the life of the baby.
If a child has an allergy (urticaria, itching, swelling), he immediately needs an antihistamine. If after that the baby feels normal, you should not worry.
If the baby began to cough, choke, turned pale - you can’t hesitate, you need to urgently call an ambulance.
If an allergic reaction occurs, the child should be given an antihistamine and consult a doctor.
Diarrhea or constipation
After swallowing a large amount of chewing gum, such consequences are to be expected. Large and dense pieces of gum disrupt the bowels, and this causes prolonged constipation. In different countries, cases have been recorded when children had to undergo surgery due to intestinal obstruction.
Diarrhea is also a common symptom of gum poisoning. Some of its components act on the intestines as a laxative, so they can provoke diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain.
If a child has diarrhea after chewing gum, fixing drugs should not be given to him. The gum should leave the body faster. When the condition of the baby does not improve, a visit to the doctor is required.
Constipation or diarrhea caused by swallowed gum requires immediate medical attention.
Actions of parents
What to do if a child swallows gum? You need to calm down and not panic. Find out how many pastilles the baby ate - one, two or more. A pair of rubber bands is not dangerous, the baby will not feel any discomfort. They will be excreted in the feces and will not harm the body.
Eaten a whole pack or more? Then the state and behavior of the child need control. If there were no symptoms during the day, the gum was digested. In case of severe pain in the abdomen, stool disorders, rashes, difficulty breathing, you cannot do without an examination by a specialist.
Summary
Even ordinary chewing gum can cause disastrous consequences. In addition to swallowing the product, the baby may accidentally inhale it into the respiratory tract, resulting in suffocation. Do not leave children alone with dangerous objects and do not give chewing gum before 6 years.