Why nut? the aspiration of hazelnuts has become a public health problem among small children in the central and eastern Black Sea regions of Turkey

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the significance of hazelnuts as the causative agent in pediatric foreign body aspirations in the main hazelnut production region of the world. We conducted a 10-year retrospective review of patients admitted to the pediatric surgery department in a 900-bed university hospital. Of 135 children with foreign body aspiration, hazelnut aspiration was identified in 35 (26%). All patients were younger than 5 years of age, and 32% of the hazelnut aspirations occurred during late summer, coinciding with the hazelnut harvest. We conclude that hazelnut aspiration is a public health problem in our region in children younger than 5 years of age, particularly during harvest-time. Hazelnut aspiration can be prevented by a well-defined public education program and precautionary measures taken by government and civil organizations.