According to media reports on September 6th， in May of this year， a toddler aged one and a half was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of vomiting and refusal to eat after accidentally swallowing a button battery.
Upon examination at the hospital， it was discovered that the button battery had been lodged in the child’s esophagus for approximately 10 hours， causing irreversible esophageal corrosion and perforation， resulting in permanent disability for the child.
Doctors emphasize that button batteries， once lodged in the esophagus， pose a grave danger. They explain that the battery acts like a miniature branding iron， capable of causing severe burns in a short period. This is due to the electrical current generated as the battery’s internal components interact with the body’s fluids. The casing can also provide a physical barrier， concentrating this corrosive effect on the delicate esophageal tissues.
If the battery remains lodged for more than 6 hours， esophageal perforation can occur. In some severe cases， children may require surgery to remove a portion of their esophagus or face lifelong difficulties with eating.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for parents and caregivers to meticulously inspect household items. It is crucial to be vigilant about potential hazards such as electronic toys， talking books， remote controls， and car key fobs， all of which commonly contain button batteries that could be easily accessed by small children.
Furthermore， parents should also exercise extreme caution regarding magnetic building sets and strong cleaning agents containing acids or alkalis， such as toilet bowl cleaners and air conditioning coil cleaners. These items are also high-risk for accidental ingestion by children and demand immediate attention and secure storage.
Button batteries， also known as coin cells， are characterized by their small， flat， disc-like shape， resembling a button. Compared to cylindrical batteries， such as AA or AAA batteries， button batteries typically have a larger diameter and a much thinner profile.
Button batteries are manufactured in a wide variety of types， often named after their primary chemical components. Common examples include silver-oxide batteries， lithium batteries， and alkaline manganese batteries. This diversity in composition dictates their voltage， capacity， and suitability for different electronic devices.
In terms of rechargeability， button batteries are generally classified into two main categories: rechargeable and non-rechargeable. Rechargeable button cells include the 3.6V rechargeable lithium-ion coin cells (LIR series) and the 3V rechargeable lithium-ion coin cells (ML or VL series). Non-rechargeable button cells comprise the 3V lithium-manganese coin cells (CR series) and the 1.5V alkaline zinc-manganese coin cells (LR and SR series).
From a classification perspective， button batteries can be divided into chemical batteries and physical batteries， with chemical batteries being the most prevalent in everyday applications. Chemical batteries consist of an anode (positive electrode)， a cathode (negative electrode)， and an electrolyte. The outer casing is typically made of stainless steel and serves as the positive electrode， while the negative electrode is a circular cap， also usually of stainless steel. An insulating seal， often made of nylon， separates the positive and negative electrodes. This seal not only prevents short-circuiting but also plays a critical role in preventing leakage of the internal electrolyte， which is essential for the battery’s operation and safety.
