Emergency Surgery Saves UAE Boy Who Swallowed 52 Magnets

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Dubai: A five years old boy in the United Arab Emirates had lifesaving emergency surgery after doctors found that he had eaten 52 tiny magnetic beads, resulting in serious internal injury that, if ignored, could have been deadly.

For several weeks, the child had only vomiting on infrequently and appeared healthy, so any suspicion of a serious problem was ignored. When his illness worsened unexpectedly, diagnostic scans revealed dozens of magnetic beads lodged in his intestinal tract.

According to doctors, the powerful magnets attracted one other through distinct loops in the intestines, trapping tissue between them. This resulted in many intestine perforations, inflammation, and infection, necessitating urgent surgery.

A surgical team successfully removed all 52 magnets and restored the damaged sections of the gut without having to remove any of the intestines. The child is currently recovering well.

Medical experts emphasised that swallowing several magnets is a medical emergency because even two magnets can attract each other within the body, shutting off blood flow and inflicting life-threatening injuries. They recommended parents to keep magnetic toys and beads out of children's reach and to seek medical attention immediately if magnet consumption is suspected, even if the child shows little or no symptoms.

Photo Credit: Khaleej Times