A "missed" nasal button battery in a child during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

A 5-year-old boy was referred acutelytoThe on-call ENT doctor following multiple remote consultations with his General practitioner with 2 months history of worsening left-sided foul-smelling nasal discharge and bleeding. He underwent examination under anaesthesia and removal of nasal foreign body which was subsequently identified as a button battery (intra-operative as well as imaging pictures included). This case highlights The challenges posed to clinicians during The COVID-19 pandemic but also serves as a reminder to keep a high index of suspicion and low threshold for clinical examination in suspected cases of nasal foreign body. It also highlights that since COVID19 omicron variant has emerged it is more than significant to evaluate cases that are assessed remotely with increased care to avoid any further misses or mistakes.