Background and Aim.: The lower respiratory tract extends from the vocal cords to thebronchus. Any type of foreign body can accidentally lodge at this site and it can become a lifeendangering emergency. This study was done in the region of Bikaner, Rajasthan, where thepeople are involved in the farming of peanuts and watermelon, and their children are proneto the inhalation and the lodging of peanuts and the seeds of watermelon in the respiratorytract. The adults and the elderly are used to chewing supari and they keep supari in theirmouth while sleeping. So, they are prone to the inhalation and the lodging of supari in therespiratory tract.Material and Methods: This is a prospective study which has been done on 50 cases offoreign body lodging in the respiratory tract. The patients who had symptoms of respiratorydistress, stridor, the intercoastal retraction of the muscles and a history of chocking,underwent clinical examination of the chest for unequal air entry. Chest X-ray and rigidbronchoscopy were done in these patients. These patients were classified according to theirage incidence, gender, rural/ urban status and the type of foreign body and its location.Results: The minimum age of the patients was 1.5 years and the maximum age was 75 years.78% patients were males and 22% patients were females, while 83% patients were from ruralareas and 17% were from urban areas. The most common type of foreign bodies which werelodged, were peanuts, followed by supari, watermelon seeds, stones and balloons. Thecommonest location of lodging was the right bronchus.Discussion: The bronchus is the commonest location for foreign body lodging in Bikaner dueto the life style of the people in that place. The people of this region grow peanuts in theirfarms and their children are prone to choking by the lodging of peanuts in their bronchus.The adults and the elderly are used to chewing supari and they keep supari in mouth during sleeping.
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