Ingestion of multiple magnets in children

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
04:55

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

Published on: September 11, 2018

Yireh Han1, Joong Kee Youn1, Chaeyoun Oh2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|January 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Multiple magnet ingestion in children can cause serious harm. Surgical removal is recommended for symptomatic children or those with no magnet migration, while asymptomatic cases may be observed.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Ingestion of multiple magnets poses significant risks to children, including intestinal obstruction and perforation.
  • Prompt and appropriate management is crucial for children presenting with multiple magnet ingestions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe an effective management approach for pediatric patients with multiple magnet ingestions.
  • To analyze the outcomes of different management strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective investigation of 9 children with multiple magnet ingestions across two Korean centers (2004-2018).
  • Analysis of patient demographics, symptoms, management interventions, and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • The median age of affected children was 34 months, with vomiting and abdominal pain being common symptoms.
  • 67% of children required surgical magnet removal due to lack of migration, suspected obstruction/perforation, or failed endoscopic removal.
  • 33% of children were asymptomatic and managed conservatively with serial radiographs, showing successful outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Surgical intervention is indicated for children with symptoms of obstruction/perforation or absent magnet migration.
  • Asymptomatic children can be safely managed with observation and serial radiography for 2-3 days.
Abstract

Keywords:
Foreign bodiesIntestinal obstructionIntestinal perforationMagnets

More Related Videos

Studying Brain Function in Children Using Magnetoencephalography08:00

Studying Brain Function in Children Using Magnetoencephalography

Published on: April 8, 2019

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla08:51

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla

Published on: February 19, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
Diamagnetism01:26

Diamagnetism

Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Ferromagnetism01:31

Ferromagnetism

Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability01:31

Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability

In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI01:14

Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI

Introduction: MRI and CT scans are crucial advancements in medical imaging techniques, playing a vital role in diagnosing conditions related to the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Each scan serves distinct purposes, targets specific areas, and requires unique nursing duties.
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...