A 13-year-old boy in New Zealand was hospitalized after swallowing dozens of high-powered magnets, finally shedding half of his bowel, based on a latest case report within the New Zealand Medical Journal.
The boy, whose identification was not disclosed, ate between 80 and 100 neodymium magnets, every 5 millimeters by two millimeters in dimension, based on the report.
The high-powered magnets, usually bought as desk toys for adults, are small but harmful if swallowed. Their robust magnetic pull may cause elements of the digestive tract to stay collectively, resulting in extreme problems comparable to stress necrosis, perforation or life-threatening infections, based on the report. Surgery is usually required, with dangers of long-term problems, comparable to continual ache.
The teen endured 4 days of belly ache earlier than searching for medical assist, the report mentioned. At the hospital, he advised docs he swallowed the magnets roughly per week earlier. The report didn’t identify the hospital the place he was handled or clarify why he ate the magnets.
Scans revealed the magnets had clustered into 4 chains within the lower-right facet of his stomach, pulling collectively totally different sections of his bowel with their magnetic pressure, the report mentioned, noting some imagery was distorted by the magnets. Doctors then proceeded with exploratory surgical procedure.
During the process, surgeons found the magnet chains have been inflicting stress necrosis – tissue dying from extended stress – in elements of the bowel and enormous gut. They efficiently eliminated the magnets, however the boy required elimination of half of his bowel. He spent eight days recovering within the hospital earlier than being discharged, the report mentioned.
Although international locations like New Zealand and Australia have completely banned the sale of high-powered magnets, enforcement stays a problem. The magnets are nonetheless extensively obtainable on-line at low costs, usually with no age verification required, the report mentioned.
The boy advised docs he bought the magnets from on-line retailer Temu. The firm advised NCS it couldn’t independently confirm this declare.
“As a precaution, we reviewed the photo of the magnets published in the Journal and checked listings of similar products on our platform. The magnets currently available are compliant with New Zealand regulations, and such products are also sold through other major online and physical retailers,” a Temu spokesperson mentioned.
“While these products are lawful to sell, they can be dangerous if swallowed and we support efforts to raise public awareness about magnet safety,” the corporate added.
In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission introduced a compulsory security customary in 2022 that limits the facility of free or separable magnets in merchandise designed for functions comparable to leisure and stress aid.
The company has also issued a number of remembers for merchandise containing hazardous magnets, which it continues to categorise as a security danger.