Townsville specialist issues warning after an increase in choking cases in young children

North Queensland parents and caregivers have been urged to familiarise themselves with choking hazards after a higher-than-usual number of young children have been seen at Townsville University Hospital after inhaling objects.

Six children have been treated for inhaled airway foreign bodies in the past six weeks - a significant increase from the usual rate of about one case every month.

Paediatric respiratory and sleep specialist Dr Dustin Mills said most cases involved toddlers and preschool-aged children.

“Children under five account for the majority of choking incidents, with the highest risk between one and three years of age,” Dr Mills said.

“At this age they are mobile and curious, they explore the world with their mouths, and they don’t yet have fully developed molars or mature swallowing coordination.

“A child’s windpipe is about the size of their little finger which makes them more susceptible to choking, or worse.”

An inhaled airway foreign body happens when food or a small object goes down the windpipe into the lungs instead of being swallowed into the stomach or coughed out.

Common items included nuts, popcorn, grapes, hard pieces of meat, raw carrot, and apple, as well as small plastic objects such as beads and toy parts.

Dr Mill said not all choking episodes were obvious or seen.

“Always supervise young children while eating, make sure they sit upright and eat calmly, cut grapes lengthwise and modify hard foods, avoid whole nuts in young children, and keep small objects and toys with removable parts out of reach.

“If a child has a choking episode and ongoing cough or breathing symptoms then take them to the emergency department.

“If they are not breathing then call 000 right away to get them to hospital.

“Townsville Hospital and Health Service has a collaborative model of care inclusive of paediatric anaesthetists and ENT which aligns with the standard of care in a major children’s hospital.

“This means we can accept referrals from across north Queensland to enable earlier intervention and avoid transfers to Brisbane.”