The National Consumer Affairs Center has issued new guidance about the risks of children accidentally ingesting button batteries following a series of household incidents recently that have led to hospitalizations and, in some cases, surgeries.

Button batteries, commonly found in toys, remote controls and various household devices, can cause serious damage to a child＊s digestive tract if swallowed. The alkaline discharge from these batteries can result in chemical burns and significant tissue damage in the esophagus or stomach, requiring emergency intervention.

In an experiment conducted by the center, placing a button battery on chicken meat soaked in saline water (to replicate conditions similar to inside the human body) caused noticeable indentations and burn-like marks within 10 minutes, with the surrounding area becoming highly alkaline.

Despite earlier safety warnings in 2014 and the introduction of child-resistant packaging by the domestic battery industry in 2018, a total of 72 cases of button battery ingestion have been reported among children between April 2019 and May this year. All the cases involved children age 7 years or younger, with 35 cases 〞 close to half 〞 involving 1-year-olds.

Of the reported cases, 33 involved surgical removal of the batteries under anesthesia.

In one case last December, a 1-year-old boy swallowed a button battery from the remote control of a fan. Although the child himself showed no symptoms of pain or distress, his parents noticed the battery was missing and sought medical help the following day.

He underwent general anesthesia for an endoscopic surgery to remove the battery, which was found to have created shallow holes and blood clots in his stomach.

Another case in February involved an 11-month-old girl who accidentally swallowed a battery from a toy given to her by an older sibling. The battery cap appeared to have come off when she had the toy in her mouth. The battery was found in her stomach about two hours later via X-ray.

The consumer watchdog highlights that flat, disc-shaped lithium batteries are particularly dangerous as they can easily get lodged in the esophagus and have a high voltage of 3 volts, which means they discharge quickly. There have also been instances where children have inserted button batteries into their noses, leading to their nasal septum suffering tissue damage.

The center advises parents to choose products with securely locked battery compartments and to keep spare batteries out of children＊s reach.

If ingestion occurs, immediate medical attention is essential. Experts warn against inducing vomiting, as it could make things worse.

※The time frame before serious injuries can occur is very short. If there＊s any suspicion that a child has swallowed a battery, seek medical attention immediately,§ the center stresses.