A mother of a little boy who is addicted to eating small objects including batteries, ear-rings and coins says she is terrified he will choke to death.
The mother-of-two from Letterkenny says her four year old son has already had ten choking episodes.
Now Fiona, who asked that her full identity not be revealed, says she wants to highlight the problem.
She has taken her son to consultants at Letterkenny General Hospital who suspect her son is suffering from Prader Willi Syndrome.
The young mother revealed that her son has even tried to eat broken light-bulb which he found in a recycling bin.
“I am close to having a nervous breakdown. I just don’t know what he is going to try and eat next.
“We have already had ten choking episodes. On one occasion we suspected he had swallowed an ear-ring but it turned out he had swallowed the pair.
“He has also swallowed batteries, coins – anything that is small and he can get in his mouth,” she said.
Fiona had to warn her son’s crèche of his addiction and they had to use child-friendly toys and dispose of anything he may have been able to swallow.
She also revealed that social services asked to see her home because they were concerned about the number of incidents of choking before her son was diagnose with the condition.
“They called to my home and they couldn’t believe how tidy it was. It has to be because my son would try to swallow anything that was lying around.
“I can understand their concern because we were constantly visiting the doctor but I think they understand now,” she said.
Fiona is now concerned that her son will be out of her supervision soon when he starts school.
“I’m really worried and I’m hoping he will grow out of it or realise that he can’t swallow these objects.
“I also want to warn other parents about the dangers of the syndrome in case their children are showing signs of it,” she said.
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