Inhalation of wild barley into the airways: two different outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

There are only two previous reports of wild barley inhalation into the tracheobronchial tree in the literature. Our aim is to describe the effects, outcome and management of wild barely inhalation into the airways.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, 18 patients with inhalation of spike of wild barley into the tracheobronchial tree were divided into 2 groups according to their clinical presentation.

RESULTS

Eighteen children below 5 years of age presented between 1989 and 1994 inclusive. Fourteen patients presented with a short duration of choking and cough. The wild barley spike was removed by laryngoscopy (12 patients) or rigid bronchoscopy (2 patients). Four patients presented with a longer history of cough, dyspnea and fever and had serious respiratory disease such as pneumothorax, lobar pneumonia and pleural empyema requiring surgical intervention. All patients made a satisfactory recovery.

CONCLUSION

Wild barley is a common grass in our area and we should be aware that children are exposed to the risk of inhalation into the airways.