What are the methods for handling a fish bone stuck in the throat?

Jan 25, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Lu Cheng

Introduction

In general, if a fish bone gets stuck in the throat, the following measures can be taken: stop eating and drinking, try coughing, attempt to remove the bone, induce vomiting, and seek medical attention promptly. When eating fish, chew slowly and thoroughly, avoiding hurried eating. At the same time, talking or laughing loudly while eating should be avoided to prevent food from entering the trachea or throat. Children should be supervised by an adult while eating fish to ensure safe consumption.

Generally speaking, the term "throat" refers to the pharynx. There is no such saying as "tips for treating a fish bone stuck in the throat." Methods for dealing with a fish bone stuck in the pharynx include stopping eating and drinking, trying to cough, attempting removal, inducing vomiting, and seeking medical attention promptly. A detailed explanation is as follows:

1. Stop Eating and Drinking

Once you realize that a fish bone is stuck in your throat, you should immediately stop eating and drinking. Continued swallowing may cause the fish bone to penetrate deeper into the throat or esophagus, increasing the difficulty and risk of removal. Stopping eating and drinking helps maintain a stationary throat condition, creating favorable conditions for subsequent treatment.

2. Try Coughing

If the fish bone is stuck in a shallow position, you can try coughing it out. While coughing, maintain a forward-bending posture and use airflow and throat vibrations to attempt to expel the fish bone. This method is suitable for cases where the fish bone has just become lodged and is located in a shallow position.

3. Attempt Removal

Under soft lighting, try opening your mouth wide and use a flashlight to illuminate the throat so others or yourself can observe the position of the fish bone. If the fish bone is clearly visible and easily accessible, you can attempt to gently remove it using clean tweezers or chopsticks, ensuring safety during the process.

4. Induce Vomiting

If the above methods fail to expel the fish bone and it is small, you can try using your fingers or a chopstick to stimulate the throat and induce a vomiting reflex, to see if the fish bone can be expelled.

5. Seek Medical Attention Promptly

If the fish bone is deeply embedded, if attempts to remove it are unsuccessful, or if symptoms such as throat pain and difficulty swallowing worsen, you should immediately go to the hospital. Doctors will use specialized tools, such as a laryngoscope, to examine and remove the fish bone.

When eating fish, chew slowly and thoroughly, avoiding hurried eating. At the same time, avoid talking or laughing while eating to prevent food from entering the trachea or throat by accident.

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