Can miniature “button” batteries present a risk of childhood poisoning?
A. These tiny batteries (used in watches, calculators, cameras, and hearing aids) usually pass through the person without any problem. However, miniature batteries may cause poisoning if swallowed and they can cause internal burns if they become lodged in the esophagus or intestinal tract. If a miniature battery is swallowed, you should contact your Poison Control Center, your physician, or the National Button Battery Ingestion hotline at 202-625-3333 (collect calls accepted). In order to prevent ingestion of miniature batteries, consumers should keep the batteries out of children’s reach and throw away old batteries, securely wrapped, after they have been removed from the appliance.
