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Bandung boy with whistle in airway squeals no more
“He refused to go to school because he was embarrased by the noise. Oftentimes he only went to school once or twice a week,” the boy's father said.
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A doctor at Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung shows a picture of a whistle that was logged in 9-year-old Asep Yaya's airway passage for two months. (JP/Arya Dipa)
A boy in Bandung whistled every time he breathed over two months before doctors came to the rescue.
The 9-year-old Asep Yaya accidentally swallowed a small whistle intended for baby shoes in October. He was playing with the whistle inside his mouth when his little brother bumped him from behind, asking to be carried on his back.
Asep’s father Subandi told The Jakarta Post that his son did not have trouble breathing, eating or doing other activities. The only catch was that Asep would make a whistling sound whenever he took a deep breath.
“He refused to go to school because he was embarrassed by the noise. Oftentimes he only went to school once or twice a week,” said Subandi.
Asep is a fifth-grader at SD 5 Jalupang Girimukti elementary school.
Two months passed before the whistle could be removed. Subandi first had to register with the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) for health insurance. Since the family resides in Kampung Cimalang, Saguling district, West Bandung regency, Asep was first taken to a local community health center (Puskesmas).
“From there, we were referred to a hospital in Kota Baru Parahyangan, then again to Hasan Sadikin Hospital because the whistle was not visible,” said Asep. The whistle was made of plastic, making it invisible in X-rays.
Hasan Sadikin Hospital is located in Bandung city, while Asep lives in West Bandung regency. The family did not have enough money to pay for transportation to the hospital.
Asep was admitted to the hospital’s emergency unit on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday morning, Asep went through an approximately one-hour procedure to remove the whistle. No incision was made as an endoscopy was used.
“The whistle was discovered in the left main bronchus. It could not be detected by X-ray, but we could estimate the location based on the sound,” said Lina Lasminingrum, the head of otolaryngologist team. She added that the whistle was about 18 centimeters from Asep’s mouth.
The whistle was approximately 2 cm long, with the width varying from 1.1 cm to 1.7 cm.
Asep slept after the procedure. “We will observe him for a day. He can go home if there’s no problem,” said Lina.
Accidental object inhalation often occurs, and not only by children. “Almost every month there is such a case, therefore we warn people not to put things in their mouths,” Lina added.
She also added that parents with little children should always watch their kids when interacting with small objects. (dev)
