If you swallow a coin, it will travel down your esophagus into your stomach. Since metals aren’t digestible, the coin won’t break down. It will then be pushed through the intestines and, in most cases, exit naturally with your stool within a few days.
- Choking/Airway Obstruction: If the coin gets stuck in your windpipe (airway) instead of your esophagus, it’s a serious medical emergency and requires immediate attention. Symptoms include coughing, gagging, difficulty breathing, or turning blue.
- Esophageal Lodging: The coin might get stuck in the esophagus (food tube), causing discomfort, difficulty swallowing, drooling, or chest pain. This may require medical removal.
- Intestinal Obstruction: A large coin could potentially block the intestine.
- Perforation: In rare cases, the coin might cause a tear in the digestive tract, potentially leading to serious complications like perforation, severe abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting.
- Toxicity: Certain types of coins, like pennies minted after 1982 (containing corrosive zinc), can potentially be toxic if they remain in the stomach for an extended period.
- Choking/Difficulty Breathing: Call emergency services (e.g., 911 in the US) immediately and perform the Heimlich maneuver or other choking first aid, if trained.
- No immediate distress: Contact your pediatrician or local Poison Control Center for guidance.
- Medical Evaluation: Even if you or your child seems fine after swallowing a coin, a medical evaluation is recommended to determine the coin’s location and potential risks.
- X-ray: An X-ray is typically used to locate the coin and determine if removal is necessary.
- Monitoring: If the coin is in the stomach or intestines and doesn’t pose immediate concerns, your doctor may advise you to monitor for passage in the stool.
- Symptoms requiring immediate attention: Seek emergency care if you or your child experience:
– Difficulty breathing or speaking
– Persistent coughing, gagging, or drooling
– Chest pain or throat pain
– Vomiting or refusing to eat or drink
– Abdominal pain or blood in the stool
- Do not induce vomiting.
- Do not use fingers to try and remove the coin if it’s lodged in the throat.
- Do not administer laxatives.
- Swallowing button batteries or multiple magnets is particularly dangerous and requires immediate emergency care.
Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for any concerns related to swallowing foreign objects.
Will you be ok if you swallow a coin?
Since swallowed coins may pass naturally through the intestinal system in many people, those who remain asymptomatic after swallowing a coin may be referred to a doctor for a removal procedure depending on the location of the coin, or may be monitored closely for the development of concerning symptoms that may indicate …
Will a coin dissolve in your stomach?
If it was another object that is not sharp or pointed, such as a coin or small plastic toy (such as a Lego® piece), it is very likely that the object will pass through the stomach, through the intestines, and then out with a bowel movement. It may take as long as a week for it to pass, even longer.
Should I take my child to the ER if they swallowed a coin?
Most children have no symptoms after swallowing an object, and the object will not cause any problems. Occasionally, the swallowed object can become stuck in the oesophagus. Take your child to a doctor or hospital emergency department if they have: trouble swallowing food.