by A pediatric emergency medicine physician’s TikTok video has racked up more than 35 million views in 72 hours after she shared one of the “most interesting cases” she’s seen in her career – while warning people about one way a simple backyard barbecue can become life-threatening.
“The ER is always unpredictable,” Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
“We see a lot of unusual things, but this is one of the most unique cases I’ve dealt with, although not the only one,” she said.
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In his recent TikTok video, Martin explained that a four-year-old boy who was eating at a barbecue was brought to the emergency room last month because he was “complaining of ear pain.”
He had a “completely complete ear exam,” Martin said in the video.
Dr Meghan Martin from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida took to TikTok to warn viewers about the dangers of using metal wire grill brushes. (Dr Meghan Martin)
The child, according to Martin, was sent home. His parents were advised to give him Ibuprofen and take the child to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
Doctors also did a full examination – and still there was nothing.
“Two days later, he came back to the emergency department and they did a CAT scan,” Martin continued in the video.
“Didn’t see anything… looks completely normal… he told him to follow up with the pediatrician and ENT again in a few days.”
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But several days later, the boy came back to the ER at 4:30 am when Martin was on call.
“Now he has some fever, and he doesn’t want to eat and drink, and we have no idea what’s going on with him,” Martin described in the video.
A little boy complained of ear pain, but the emergency pediatrician Dr. Martin (not pictured) that the little boy’s test was normal. But the pain he was feeling continued. (iStock)
“His ear exam was completely normal, and he was still complaining of ear pain,” she said.
On the throat examination, Martin explained, the child had some swelling of the right tonsil area and tenderness in the neck on the right side.
“So we all went out,” said Martin. “We did a CAT scan of the neck, including the ears with contrast. We did a ton of labs, gave him fluids, did every test we could think of. Then we got our answer with the CAT scan.”
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Finally, the boy inserted a two-centimeter metal wire into the peritonsillar tissue of his throat.
It had also started to develop an abscess around it.
“He was eating a hamburger when this happened,” Martin shared in his video.
“So, the grill brush – the metal wires on the grill brush – had gotten into the hamburger and when he ate the hamburger, it got into the soft tissue.”
A two-centimeter-long wire that belonged to a metal wire grill brush was found in the young boy’s peritonsillar tissue, near his tonsils. (iStock)
The ear pain, Martin explained, was probably because the eustation tube is in that area – and he had pressure and irritation from there.
Martin said her young patient went to the operating room and ear, nose and throat surgeons were able to remove the tube and drain the abscess.
“We were able to validate the pain the child was in and respond to the family.”
He was started on several antibiotics and his pain resolved completely.
“We never want a kiddo to be sick, but it felt good to get an answer for the family, especially something we could fix,” Martin told Fox New Digital.
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“We were able to validate the pain the child was in and give the family an answer, and they were grateful,” she said.
“It was a good day in the ER, and I don’t get to say that every day,” she added.
In the ER, the young boy underwent a procedure to drain the abscess and remove a foreign body from the soft tissues of his throat. (Dr Meghan Martin)
Martin said if the foreign body had remained inside the boy’s body, there would have been an enlarged abscess or pocket of infection that would have spread and caused other problems.
“There could be feeding problems that could get worse, breathing and sepsis,” said Martin about what could have happened.
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“If it were in a different location like the abdomen, it can also cause problems in the intestine such as obstructions and perforations, which can also be dangerous,” she noted in a TikTok video.
Martin said if someone swallows a foreign object, it’s important to watch for changes in breathing, changes in alertness or persistent vomiting — and to call 911 or go to the ER.
“Don’t use grill brushes with metal wires,” Martin also told his followers.
The metal wire brush used to clean a grill is believed to have lodged in a hamburger – and then lodged in the throat of a young patient. (iStock)
“Not only do they run the risk of lodging in the soft tissues in your throat, but they can cause bowel obstructions and perforations in the abdomen if accidentally swallowed,” she explained.
Martin said she created the video to raise awareness about grill brushes with metal wires because it’s a small change in people’s lives that can remove that risk.
Martin warned people about some other dangers to consider.
“People love a good medical mystery,” Martin told Fox News Digital. “Especially one that has a happy ending, where we find the cause and can intervene to fix it. There are many other options on the market at a very reasonable price that don’t carry the same risk.”
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As spring approaches, Martin warned people about some other hazards to consider.
“With spring and summer comes pools and the beach,” said Martin. “Especially here in Florida, water safety is extremely important. At times, kids can slip out and fall into the water. It’s important to always be vigilant.”
Dr. Martin of St. Petersburg, Florida, left the audience with a warning: “Don’t use grill brushes with metal wires.” (Dr Meghan Martin)
Accidents involving water beads — small polymers that can be used for plants and also for sensory toys — are the ones Martin said she sees more of inside the emergency room when the weather is nicer.
Button batteries — small batteries found in hearing aids, key chains, small toys, remote controls and more — are a year-round hazard.
“They can cause significant injuries” if ingested by children or pets, Martin said.
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After the reaction to his video and all the new followers, Martin posted an “introduction” video, explaining that his mission is aimed at “creating a bridge” between the medical community and the patients served by doctors.
“I spent many years training and learning how to talk to others in the medical field, and we use this language on a regular basis, and sometimes we forget that others may not fully understand us,” said Martin.
“Don’t use grill brushes with metal wires,” Martin told his TikTok followers. (Dr. Meghan Martin/iStock)
“I feel like I can speak in a way that is understandable to people who don’t know the ‘medical language’. Educating people creates patients who can advocate for themselves and their families,” she said.
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“I feel that by educating me, I am also empowering,” she said.
