The author describes a case of a chronic foreign body in the oesophagus in a 33-month-old child who since the age of 15 months when an acute attack occurred had relapses of laryngitis and tracheobronchitis, which were usually afebrile. Despite repeated antibiotic treatment improvement did not occur. Only endoscopic examination indicated by the ENT specialist revealed the cause - a wedged synthetic button at the borderline of the upper and middle third of the oesophagus.

        Key words: foreign body in the oesophagus, chronic foreign body, relapsing laryngotracheo- bronchitis, endoscopy.