A clinical study of 45 cases of airway foreign bodies in infants and children is presented, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods are discussed. There were 24 boys and 21 girls. The majority of cases(64%) were under 3 years of age. Only 18% of the patients underwent definitive treatment within 24 hours after aspiration of foreign bodies. Major symptoms and signs were dyspnea, decreased air entry, and wheezing. A history of aspiration could be obtained in 80% of the patients. In radiologic findings, atelectasis was the most common, followed by obstructive emphysema and radiopaque foreign body shadow. Sixty percent of the foreign bodies were vegetables, among which peanuts predominated. Localization in the left bronchus was more frequent than in the right one. Bronchoscopic extraction of foreign body was successful in 86% of cases and operation time was 30-60 minutes in 46% of cases. Complications occurred in 36% of cases and there were no deaths in this series. Education of the laymen and a high index of suspicion are needed for early and correct diagnosis and thus to prevent serious complications.