A Case of a Foreign Body Disguised as an Insect Bite: A Possible Child Abuse

Sewing needle is one of the most prevalent foreign bodies reported in child abuse cases. However, foreign body presented as insect bite is extremely rare.
Our case was a 20-month-old boy, admitted for his right knee swelling and discomfort on walking in the morning of admission. There was only a small red point on the medial side of his knee suggesting an insect bite. Because a metal object was found in his radiologic assessment; further investigation was done because of suspected child abuse. Eventually, a sewing needle was selectively removed in the operating room.
A high index of suspicion is required to distinguish such a rare case. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is the cornerstone of the foreign body detection in the emergency department.