20-month-old Boy With a One-Day History of Fever and Cough

• FBA is a potentially life-threatening emergency that should be considered in infants and toddlers who present with cough and wheezing. Foods are the most commonly aspirated objects, particularly round foods such as legumes. • A history of a choking episode should be sought and if present, rigid bronchoscopy performed, even if the chest radiograph appears normal. Infection and airway inflammation may occur with delayed diagnosis. • Chest radiography may prove helpful, but nonspecific findings are often noted, such as hyperinflation, atelectasis, or infiltrates. • Patients with a partial airway obstruction should undergo bronchoscopy; patients with complete airway obstruction require back slaps and chest thrusts for infants or abdominal thrusts for older children. • Prevention of FBA should be addressed in health supervision visits beginning at 6 months of age. Recommendations should be given on safe keeping of toys, objects, and medications as well as appropriate progression to foods that may easily be aspirated. © 2015, American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved.