13-year-old boy hospitalized after swallowing dozens of high-powered magnets
A 13-year-old boy in New Zealand was hospitalized after swallowing dozens of high-powered magnets and eventually lost part of his intestine. New Zealand Medical Journal.
According to the report, the unidentified child ate between 80 and 100 neodymium magnets, each measuring five millimeters by two millimeters.
High-power magnets often sold as: desk toys It is small for adults but dangerous if swallowed. Their strong magnetic attraction can cause parts of the digestive system to stick together, leading to serious complications such as pressure necrosis, perforation or life-threatening infections, according to the report. Surgery is often required due to the risks of long-term complications such as chronic pain.
The report stated that the teenager suffered from abdominal pain for four days before seeking medical help. At the hospital, he told doctors that he had swallowed the magnets about a week ago. The name of the hospital where he was treated or why he ate the magnets was not disclosed in the report.
The report stated that some images were distorted by the magnets, while the scans revealed that the magnets were collected in four chains on the lower right side of his abdomen and brought together different parts of his intestine with their magnetic power. Doctors then proceeded with exploratory surgery.
During the procedure, surgeons discovered that the magnet chains caused pressure necrosis (tissue death due to prolonged pressure) in parts of the intestine and large intestine. They successfully removed the magnets, but part of the child’s intestine had to be removed. He spent eight days in the hospital before being discharged, the report said.
Although countries such as New Zealand and Australia have permanently banned the sale of high-powered magnets, enforcement of this ban remains a challenge. The report notes that the magnets are widely available online at low prices, often without requiring age verification.
The child told doctors he bought the magnets from online retailer Temu. The company told CNN it could not independently verify this claim.
“As a precaution, we have reviewed the photo of the magnets published in the Journal and checked listings of similar products on our platform. Magnets currently available comply with New Zealand regulations and such products are also sold through other major online and physical retailers,” a Temu spokesperson said.
“Although these products are legal for sale, they can be dangerous if swallowed, and we support efforts to raise public awareness about magnet safety,” the company added.
Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States introduced A mandatory safety standard in 2022 that limits the strength of loose or detachable magnets in products designed for purposes such as entertainment and stress relief.
There is an agency also published Numerous recalls for products containing dangerous magnets, which it continues to classify as a safety risk.
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