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Choking kills more infants in summer, warn doctors

Abu Dhabi - Global child injury deaths by choking, smothering, asphyxiation and animal bites for children aged 0-17 is 31.1 per cent.

Parents are urged to pay more attention to their babies as deaths due to choking are increasing in the country.
Dr Dhiraj Sidagonda Shedabale, specialist paediatrician from Zulekha Hospital, told Khaleej Times that two children lost their lives last month after being admitted to the hospital, due to choking. 
A one and half- year-old, who was fed a whole grape was "brought to the emergency room in a lifeless condition," said Dr Shedabale. 
He said the boy was then taken to the ICU, but died three days later. "All his organs were in dysfunction, and he died simply because he tried eating a whole grape."
A four-year-old who choked at school was also admitted to the hospital in June, although paramedics were unable to recover him. 
"He choked while eating a sandwich and when he was brought to the hospital there were already no signs of life."
Another one and half-year-old choked on a piece of bread was also rushed the hospital, but luckily, the child's life was saved.
He said a two-year-old was similarly admitted to the same hospital after choking on his mother's earrings. His life was also saved.
"Items around the house and toys can be the most dangerous for toddlers, and their curiosity could lead to fatality."
Dr Shedabale explained that a child's windpipe size in diameter is almost the same size of a drinking straw. Dr Shedabale added: "Parents need to be careful while feeding their children, they must choose the right food, and keep items and toys out of reach."
Dr Mervat Hashem, consultant neonatology/paediatrics and head of paediatrics / neonatal intensive care unit, Universal Hospital, said mothers must also keep an eye on their newborns after breastfeeding, as choking incidents are also likely to occur.
Recalling a recent case, Dr Hashem said: "There have been cases of newborns choking because after they were fed, they're not properly burped, then put to sleep and left unwatched. "The baby vomited during sleep and began choking because the milk entered the airway. The mother found her baby blue with milk all over him."
Moreover, Dr Hashem stressed that as babies grow, they will start to sit and pick items up from the floor. "These items can be shocking to them, small particles from the toys will make them choke and could cause death."
She noted that doctors also see large cases of during summer because children are not being carefully watched over in swimming pools or the beach. "We receive about seven choking cases per month, but it doubles in summer. If the water comes in their airways they could choke, stop breathing and drown. We see this often in summertime."
She also advises parents to not allow their children to eat nuts, unless they are over the age of six.
"If the child aspirates from eating nuts, coughs and wheezes, he could mistakenly be diagnosed as asthmatic, when in fact he is not.
"The small particles of the nuts will go unnoticed, but within the time it will lead to problems with the lungs and he will be diagnosed with asthma."
Fourth leading cause of unintentional injury 
According to Injury Facts 2017, choking is the fourth leading cause of 'unintentional injury' death. 
There are 100,000 unintentional childhood injuries, including choking, according to the Children Health and Environment Report by the World Health Organisation. The Middle East and the region has a whopping 40 per cent unintentional or related to choking incidents in children, whereas Europe, has 7.9-25.4 per cent, a year.
Global child injury deaths by choking, smothering, asphyxiation and animal bites for children aged 0-17 is 31.1 per cent. Moreover, 16.8 per cent of global child injury deaths is caused by drowning. Children under five years of age have the highest drowning mortality rates worldwide, with New Zealand and Canada as an exception.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com