ABSTRACT

Alkaline disk batteries are used to power watches, cam­ eras, games, computers, calculators, and hearing aids. Although ingestion of small batteries was seldom reported in the late 1970s, with the trend toward elec­ tronic miniaturization, ingestion of miniature or “button batteries” is now frequent (1,2). Easy access to the button batteries in these electronic devices and careless disposal of used batteries in the home have led to a rising inci­ dence of their ingestion in children. Hearing aid batteries are ingested to a great extent, apparently due to the large supply in the homes of hearing aid users, due to the lim­ ited life span of the hearing aid battery (1,3). People have intentionally ingested button batteries to harm them­ selves and accidentally while attempting to “test” the bat­ tery under the tongue. However, the vast majority of but­ ton battery ingestions occur when curious children explore their environment. Although the age distribution of battery ingestors is predominantly pediatric, no age group appears to be exempt from accidental battery ingestion (4).