From BBQ to ER: How a common grilling mistake could lead to a medical emergency
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The love for summer barbeques is an integral part of Aussies culture, and many of us have fond memories of gathering around a BBQ with friends and family.
From beach barbies to backyard gatherings, the smell of sizzling meat and the sound of laughter and conversation is a quintessential element of Australian summers.
Whether you prefer lamb chops or veggie skewers, barbequing is a way for Aussies to come together and enjoy good food, good company, and the beautiful outdoors.
Unfortunately, if we’re not careful, barbeques can also be dangerous, as one mum-of-four learnt the hard way when she was presented with a very interesting case in the paediatric emergency room. But this condition doesn’t only affect children, we’re all at risk!
'One of the most interesting cases that I have had to date was a four-year-old boy who was at a barbeque eating when he suddenly grabbed his ear and started crying, complaining of ear pain,' she said in a post on TikTok.
The family brought him to the ER hoping to get some painkillers, but upon inspection, the ear seemed to have nothing wrong. The doctor recommended ibuprofen and a visit to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist a few days later.
However, the child continued to suffer from pain and the ENT couldn't find any problems with his ears.
Despite his parents’ efforts, the little boy’s condition had not improved — to make matters worse, he was now suffering from swollen tonsils and high fever as well. The doctor was perplexed, as both ear and throat exams showed minimal signs of inflammation.
‘He doesn’t want to eat or drink. And we have no idea what's going on with him,’ she explained.
In a last-ditch effort to solve the mystery, the doctor ordered a full CAT scan with contrast on the boy's throat and ears. And what they found was nothing short of shocking.
The scan revealed a foreign object lodged in the boy's throat, causing him severe pain and discomfort. Upon further inspection, the doctors were stunned to discover a 2-centimetre-long metal wire stuck in the soft tissue near the boy's tonsils.
And here’s the horrific part: the wire was actually a strand from the family's grill brush, which they had used while making hamburgers on the barbeque just a few days earlier.
The doctor's explanation shed light on the source of the boy's suffering, revealing that the tiny metal wire most likely fell off the brush and made its way into the hamburger he had eaten, eventually becoming lodged in the delicate tissues of his throat.
The little boy's earache turned out to be much more serious than anyone anticipated - an abscess caused by the erosion of a metal wire from a grill brush, which had become lodged in his eustachian tube and required immediate surgery.
Thankfully, the skilled ENT surgeon was able to remove the abscess and the boy made a full recovery, but the incident serves as a stark warning of the dangers of using grill brushes with metal wires.
As the doctor stated in the video, these brushes pose a serious risk to our health, with the potential to cause throat and abdominal injuries that can be life-threatening.
‘There's not only the risk that it can get lodged in the soft tissues in your throat, but they can also cause bowel obstructions and perforations in the abdomen if accidentally swallowed,’ she cautioned.
It's difficult to imagine the pain and suffering this little boy endured for days before getting a proper diagnosis.
The realisation that a simple family barbeque had caused such harm is terrifying - and it’s a testament to the importance of being vigilant about potential hazards in our everyday lives, even in situations we might not think are dangerous.
It's also a great reminder to check that your grilling supplies are safe, especially when it comes to food.
Cases like this show how important it is to pay extra attention to items like grill brushes – nothing good can come from using wire-bristle brushes, as dangerous accidents can easily happen.
We recommend using natural-fibre brushes instead, like those made from coconut, as they are not only effective but also extremely safe. They might be a little costlier, but your health and peace of mind are worth it.
Wire-bristle brushes tend to eventually loosen and fall out, which can lead to harmful consequences.
It may sound like an unlikely story, but cases like these are very real. We urge all our members to be aware to prevent similar injuries from happening in the future!
You heard it here first, members! Better check your grills or anything with metal bristles immediately to keep yourself safe from accidents. As always, we recommend visiting a medical professional if you’re currently experiencing any medical condition or pain.
Stay safe and healthy, everyone! And if you have your own safety tips, please share them with us in the comments below! We could all use a little reminder sometimes.
From beach barbies to backyard gatherings, the smell of sizzling meat and the sound of laughter and conversation is a quintessential element of Australian summers.
Whether you prefer lamb chops or veggie skewers, barbequing is a way for Aussies to come together and enjoy good food, good company, and the beautiful outdoors.
Unfortunately, if we’re not careful, barbeques can also be dangerous, as one mum-of-four learnt the hard way when she was presented with a very interesting case in the paediatric emergency room. But this condition doesn’t only affect children, we’re all at risk!
If you’re a fan of BBQs in the summer, then you might want to think twice before biting into a home-cooked burger. Credit: Unsplash/Zac Cain.
'One of the most interesting cases that I have had to date was a four-year-old boy who was at a barbeque eating when he suddenly grabbed his ear and started crying, complaining of ear pain,' she said in a post on TikTok.
The family brought him to the ER hoping to get some painkillers, but upon inspection, the ear seemed to have nothing wrong. The doctor recommended ibuprofen and a visit to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist a few days later.
However, the child continued to suffer from pain and the ENT couldn't find any problems with his ears.
Despite his parents’ efforts, the little boy’s condition had not improved — to make matters worse, he was now suffering from swollen tonsils and high fever as well. The doctor was perplexed, as both ear and throat exams showed minimal signs of inflammation.
‘He doesn’t want to eat or drink. And we have no idea what's going on with him,’ she explained.
In a last-ditch effort to solve the mystery, the doctor ordered a full CAT scan with contrast on the boy's throat and ears. And what they found was nothing short of shocking.
The CAT Scan revealed a 2cm metal wire lodged in the soft tissue near his tonsil, that an abscess had started to grow around. Credit: TikTok/beachgem10.
The scan revealed a foreign object lodged in the boy's throat, causing him severe pain and discomfort. Upon further inspection, the doctors were stunned to discover a 2-centimetre-long metal wire stuck in the soft tissue near the boy's tonsils.
And here’s the horrific part: the wire was actually a strand from the family's grill brush, which they had used while making hamburgers on the barbeque just a few days earlier.
The doctor's explanation shed light on the source of the boy's suffering, revealing that the tiny metal wire most likely fell off the brush and made its way into the hamburger he had eaten, eventually becoming lodged in the delicate tissues of his throat.
The little boy's earache turned out to be much more serious than anyone anticipated - an abscess caused by the erosion of a metal wire from a grill brush, which had become lodged in his eustachian tube and required immediate surgery.
Thankfully, the skilled ENT surgeon was able to remove the abscess and the boy made a full recovery, but the incident serves as a stark warning of the dangers of using grill brushes with metal wires.
As the doctor stated in the video, these brushes pose a serious risk to our health, with the potential to cause throat and abdominal injuries that can be life-threatening.
‘There's not only the risk that it can get lodged in the soft tissues in your throat, but they can also cause bowel obstructions and perforations in the abdomen if accidentally swallowed,’ she cautioned.
It's difficult to imagine the pain and suffering this little boy endured for days before getting a proper diagnosis.
The realisation that a simple family barbeque had caused such harm is terrifying - and it’s a testament to the importance of being vigilant about potential hazards in our everyday lives, even in situations we might not think are dangerous.
It's also a great reminder to check that your grilling supplies are safe, especially when it comes to food.
Cases like this show how important it is to pay extra attention to items like grill brushes – nothing good can come from using wire-bristle brushes, as dangerous accidents can easily happen.
The brush's wire bristles can break off, remain on the grill grate and end up in the food you're cooking. Credit: Shutterstock.
We recommend using natural-fibre brushes instead, like those made from coconut, as they are not only effective but also extremely safe. They might be a little costlier, but your health and peace of mind are worth it.
Wire-bristle brushes tend to eventually loosen and fall out, which can lead to harmful consequences.
It may sound like an unlikely story, but cases like these are very real. We urge all our members to be aware to prevent similar injuries from happening in the future!
Stay safe and healthy, everyone! And if you have your own safety tips, please share them with us in the comments below! We could all use a little reminder sometimes.
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