Danger zones of having a fish bone stuck in your throat.
Accidental ingestion of a fishbone is very common, especially amongst populations where there is a high consumption of seafood. In most cases, an ingested fish bone will easily pass through the gastrointestinal tract within the space of a week, but on other occasions, there will be complications that may even lead to death.
The moment fish bone is swallowed, it lodges itself in the upper aerodigstive tract, stomach, esophagus, colon, or the small bowel, on rare occasions, it will enter the airways and lodge itself within the trachea or even the major bronchi. Fishbone finding itself entrapped in the upper aerodigestive tract is the most common complication that happens.
In some cases, the fishbone may penetrate through the mucosal lining and extend deep into the spaces of the neck with a resultant abscess formation. With a fish bone stuck in your throat, the following symptoms may be experienced; coughing, sharp pain in the throat, tingling or prickling sensation in the throat, spitting up blood, and difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing.
It is only usually in rare cases that swallowing a fish bone becomes an emergency. So, a few home remedies will could help out;
Chewing and swallowing a marshmallow may just be right enough to soften it. This substance in its sugary and sticky form will grab the bone and carry it down the stomach.
Some carbonated drinks that contain soda enter into the stomach and release gasses, these released gasses will help disintegrate the bone and build pressure that can dislodge it.
Taking a large bite of banana in your mouth for about a minute, and swallowing up one big gulp has also been found to be highly helpful.
Olive oil is a helpful natural lubricant, with one or two tablespoons being swallowed, the lining of the throat and bone in itself will be coated, making it easier for swallowing to happen or sometimes even cough it out.
Soaking a piece of bread in water for about a minute, having a large bite, and then swallowing it in its big junk, places pressure on the fish bone and pushes it downward.
Vinegar in its acidic nature has also proven to help break down the ingested fish bone, making it easier to swallow. It works by diluting 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a cup of water and drinking one tablespoon straight.
Bread covered in peanut butter taken in a big pulp can also help but remember to have water beside you.
However, when these home remedies do not work out, going to a doctor as soon as possible is very important. At the medical center, a plain radiograph is usually the initial and most commonly ordered radiological investigation, the result may show a linear calcific structure which requires no further imaging. But, in some cases, the fishbone may not be seen especially if impacted within the cervical esophagus.
When plan radiography is unsuccessful, follow-up imaging with a non-contrast CT scan may then be used to help visualize the fishbone as the CT scan has a higher sensitivity.