Toy, remote and hearing-aid hazard: Neonatologist Dr Bhawna Malik explains button batteries can cause oesophageal burns

Small, shiny button batteries found in toys, remote controls, watches, hearing aids and other household devices may look harmless. But if swallowed by a child, they can become a life-threatening medical emergency. When a button battery becomes lodged in the oesophagus, severe tissue injury can develop in less than two hours, making prompt medical attention essential.

Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Career journey and experience Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon. From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?” Subject expertise With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions. In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context. Education and professional background Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first. Editorial Philosophy I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.

Button batteries are commonly found in everyday items such as TV remotes, toys, watches, car keys, calculators, musical greeting cards, thermometers, hearing aids and other small electronic gadgets. “Because they are small, round and shiny, young children may mistake them for sweets, coins or other harmless objects and accidentally swallow them” Neonatologist & Paediatric Intensivist Dr Bhawna Malik, Motherhood Hospitals, Greater Noida tells Health Shots . A button battery lodged in the oesophagus is uniquely dangerous because it can cause severe tissue injury even when the child initially appears completely well.

When the battery comes into contact with moist tissue, it can generate an electrical current. This leads to the formation of hydroxide ions and creates a highly alkaline environment around the battery. The resulting chemical injury can rapidly damage the oesophageal lining.