The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of, and patient characteristics associated with, the presence of a pediatric nasal foreign body when one is reported but none is visible on simple exam.

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to a tertiary pediatric emergency department from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2023 with a chief concern of nasal foreign body. We excluded patients for whom a foreign body was readily visible by direct visualization or with the aid of an otoscope. This left our population of interest: pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department with a chief concern of nasal foreign body but with none visible on simple exam. Within this population we determined the proportion of patients ultimately found to have a foreign body, and identified characteristics associated with foreign body presence.

We identified 190 patients in our population of interest. 17 % were ultimately found to have a foreign body present. Patient characteristics associated with the presence of a foreign body included ongoing symptoms, objective exam findings, and remote insertion time. There was no association with foreign body material or the reported presence of foreign bodies in multiple locations.

These results demonstrate that pediatric nasal foreign bodies may be present even if not visible by direct visualization or otoscopic exam. The incidence and associated patient characteristics reported can help clinicians engage in more data-informed shared decision-making when determining whether to pursue additional measures beyond a simple exam.

Pediatric emergency medicine

Otolaryngology

Nasal foreign body

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.