During play, a pumpkin seed entered the airways of a three-year-old girl in Ajmerabad, Gujarat state. Following this, the child developed a severe cough, experienced breathing difficulties, and began vomiting. Medical examination revealed that the seed was lodged in her respiratory tract.
The girl's condition was critical. She was first taken to a local hospital, then transferred to another clinic, and finally referred to the Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad. There, doctors performed a complex procedure and successfully removed the seed from the trachea. The child's condition has now stabilized, and she has been discharged from the hospital.
The three-year-old girl lives in Malpur, Aravalli district. While playing, she accidentally swallowed an object, which led to persistent coughing, breathing difficulties, and vomiting. When her condition worsened, her parents immediately took her to the local Modasa hospital. From there, she was transferred to GMERS Hospital in Himmatnagar for more specialized care.
In Himmatnagar, doctors provided the child with oxygen support and subsequently conducted a CT scan. The examination detected a foreign body in the left main bronchus, causing a blockage of the airway leading to the lungs. Due to the severity of the child's condition, doctors decided to transfer her to the Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad.
On the morning of October 26, the girl was brought to the Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad, where a team of doctors immediately began treatment. First, her vital signs were stabilized. As soon as her condition slightly improved, preparations began for the removal of the foreign body from the airways. Professor and Head of Pediatric Surgery at the Civil Hospital, Dr. Rakesh Joshi, along with Dr. Sonal, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, and their team performed the treatment.
The doctors performed a procedure called 'therapeutic bronchoscopy.' In simpler terms, using a special instrument, they examined the inside of the trachea and attempted to remove the lodged object. It was by this method that the pumpkin seed was extracted from the girl's left main bronchus. Hospital management reported that the child's condition is now stable, and she has been allowed to be discharged.
Following this incident, the supervisor of the Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad, Dr. Rakesh Joshi, advised parents of young children to be vigilant. He noted that children often swallow small objects during play, such as coins, toy parts, seeds, or food. If such an object enters the airways, the situation can become very serious. Airway obstruction can cause breathing problems in a child, and without timely treatment, there is a risk to life.
Doctors strongly recommend that parents do not leave coins, small toys, seeds, and other objects that a child might easily put in their mouth near them. It is also important to supervise children during meals and play.
Sudden, severe, or persistent coughing in a child should not be ignored. If symptoms such as difficulty breathing or a feeling of suffocation appear, it should not be considered a common cold, especially if the problem arose suddenly during eating or playing. In such a situation, immediate medical attention must be sought. It is strictly forbidden to try to feed the child anything or pull the object out of the throat with a finger yourself. If the child cannot breathe, it is a medical emergency, and one must go to the hospital immediately.
