I think I swallowed glass. What should I do?
The bottom line
Swallowing a small piece of glass will likely not result in any symptoms. However, larger pieces with sharp edges can injure the throat and gut. Symptoms may include chest or abdominal pain, blood in stool, bloated abdomen, and fever.
Prevention Tips
When a cup, bowl, lens, windowpane, mirror, light bulb, or other item made of glass breaks, be sure to clean up all the pieces. Use gloves to protect yourself from lacerations.
Do not bite into drinking glasses or other glass food utensils.
Use a digital thermometer rather than a glass thermometer to check for fever.
Do not use glass thermometers to check food temperatures since fragments can get into the food if they break.
This Really Happened
In a suicide attempt a 42-year-old man swallowed several glass shards. He was admitted to the emergency room 2 days later complaining of abdominal pain. X-rays showed glass fragments in the stomach and intestines. Several shards of glass were removed from his stomach by endoscopy. There were no signs of perforation. He was monitored in the hospital and by the fifth day he no longer had abdominal pain. Imaging studies showed that the glass fragments had passed since they were no longer in his stomach or intestines. He was transferred for psychiatric treatment.
Is swallowing glass dangerous?
The danger associated with swallowing glass depends on the size and sharpness of the glass. If it is a small piece, it will probably pass without causing symptoms. Chewing glass can cut the mouth. If a big piece of glass or one with sharp edges is swallowed, it can cause injury to the throat and gut. Symptoms may include chest or abdominal pain, blood in stool, bloated abdomen, and fever.
What happens if you accidentally swallow glass?
What happens when you swallow glass depends on the size of the piece in question. If it is a small piece of glass, you will probably not experience any symptoms, as it will pass through your gut and be eliminated in your stool. If you accidentally chew on a small piece of glass, you may cut your mouth. If it is a big piece of glass with sharp edges, it can injure your throat, esophagus, stomach, and/or intestines. If there are cuts in these areas, you can experience pain in your chest or abdomen and see blood in your stool. If the damage is significant, you may develop a fever, chills, and bloated or swollen abdomen.
How to treat someone who has swallowed glass
If someone swallows a small piece of glass and has no symptoms, the best treatment is to observe for development of symptoms. It has been suggested that eating fiber such as bran or white bread will help the glass pass through the digestive tract without causing injury. However, there is no scientific evidence one way or the other to support this claim. If someone swallows a large sharp piece of glass or has symptoms, they should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. A treatment option is endoscopic removal of the glass. Surgery may be necessary if the glass causes a bowel perforation.
When to seek help
If you have symptoms or suspect that a sharp piece of glass was swallowed, you should seek help from a health care professional. Help from experts is available through using the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool or by calling your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
