Ingestion of Multiple Magnets by Children: Diagnosis and Management When Ingestion is not Witnessed

Foreign body ingestion, particularly that of magnets, is a significant issue for children aged 6 months to 3 years due to their prevalence in toys and household items. Most ingested foreign bodies pass naturally, but 10%-20% of such cases require endoscopic removal, and <1% require surgery.

A 2-year-old girl presented with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed numerous non-specific mesenteric lymph nodes. Plain abdominal radiography identified multiple high-radiopacity foreign bodies, 4.5 mm in diameter.

We performed an emergency laparotomy and removed 24 spherical magnets through an intestinal breach.

Over the past decade, the incidence of magnet ingestion in children has increased notably, largely owing to the presence of small high-strength neodymium magnets in toys. Legislative actions, including recalls and bans, have effectively reduced ingestion cases; however, challenges, such as the resale of banned products and insufficient public awareness, persist. This case report addresses the concerns of this ongoing trend and suggests easy preventive measures to improve the safety of children.