West African journal of medicine
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Observations on nineteen cases of foreign bodies in the air passages have been presented. These mostly got lodged in the right bronchus (42.1%) and larynx (36.8%) while the commonest presenting complaint was respiratory distress. As many as 57.9 percent of our cases were aged two years or less. ⋯ Subglottic, tracheal or laryngeal inlet mucosal oedema were observed after removal of foreign body in six cases. A plea has been made to have a high degree of suspicion of foreign bodies in every child with respiratory symptoms of sudden onset. Endoscopy at the earliest has been recommended for prompt diagnosis and treatment.