Doctors Warn Against Home Remedies After Fish Bones Get Stuck in Throat
Medical experts warn against traditional home remedies like swallowing bread when a fish bone gets stuck in the throat, advising prompt endoscopic evaluation to prevent serious tissue injury.
During holiday meals, fish is a traditional choice, but it often brings a common hazard: sharp little bones that can get stuck in the throat. When this happens, many people resort to home remedies like swallowing bread or rice, but attempting to push the bone down can cause further damage.
A man in his 50s arrived at the A.R.M. Medical Center suffering from sharp pain, difficulty swallowing, and a foreign body sensation deep in his throat after eating fish at a restaurant. Examination revealed that a thin red mullet bone had penetrated his esophagus. Fortunately, the bone was extracted within about 20 minutes using specialized endoscopic equipment without the need for surgery, and the patient was discharged home the same day.
Risks of Home Remedies
According to Dr. Ariel Malmud, an ENT specialist at A.R.M. Urgent Care at Assuta Ramat HaHayil, cases of fish bones getting stuck in the throat are quite common, especially during holidays and weekends. "The problem is not just the bone itself, but what people do in the first few minutes after feeling it get stuck," Dr. Malmud says. "Many people try to solve the problem themselves, and in some cases, these actions can actually cause damage or complicate treatment."
One of the most famous pieces of advice is to try swallowing a piece of bread, rice, or potato to push the bone down. However, a fish bone is sharp, and applying force by swallowing food can cause it to penetrate deeper into the tissue or injure it. Similarly, trying to remove the bone with fingers, tweezers, or other objects is strongly discouraged.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If the sensation does not pass, or if significant pain or difficulty swallowing appears, one should seek medical evaluation. It is important to know that not every feeling of a stuck object necessarily means the bone is still there; sometimes the bone has already dislodged, leaving behind a scratch or tissue irritation that mimics the sensation.
"People sometimes assume it's just a scratch and wait. But if the bone is still there, it can cause further injury. In the case of a stuck bone, it is better to get checked early rather than trying home methods that could complicate the situation," notes Dr. Malmud.
If breathing difficulties, choking, or respiratory distress occur, this is a medical emergency requiring immediate urgent care.
