Chicken bone turns Sunday lunch into nine-day hospital stay
Health-e News Chicken bone turns Sunday lunch into nine-day hospital stay Dorothy Khomo from Duduza township, near Springs on Gauteng’s East Rand, had just returned from church and was eating with her family when she felt a chicken bone lodge in her throat. Her sister suggested eating brown bread to push it down. When that did not work, Khomo went to bed, hoping the discomfort would pass.…
On a Sunday, Dorothy Khomo from a township near Springs in Gauteng's East Rand was enjoying a family meal when she felt a chicken bone get stuck in her throat. Despite her sister's suggestion to eat brown bread, Khomo's condition worsened that night. She could not sleep well, had a fever, and her throat was sore. By Monday, her speech was impaired and her neck was swollen.
Khomo visited Nokuthela Ngwenya Clinic in Dunnottar, who referred her to Pholosong Regional Hospital. Upon arrival, she was told she needed to see an ENT specialist, but was sent home without receiving the necessary examination. The next day, a scan revealed the bone was still lodged in her throat and doctors performed an emergency surgery to remove it.
Most swallowed foreign bodies pass through the digestive system, but sharp bones pose serious risks such as oesophageal perforation, infection and abscess formation. CT scans may be required to check for these complications. Khomo needed a feeding tube for nine days post-surgery before gradually transitioning to soft foods. She now exercises caution when eating chicken bones, despite still consuming them occasionally, as tradition remains an important part of her family's food culture.
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