Pune Boy Survives Medical Crisis After Swallowing Seven Magnets
A nine-year-old boy from Pune narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation after accidentally swallowing seven magnets during playtime at home. The incident went completely unnoticed by both the child and his parents initially, delaying crucial medical intervention.
Deteriorating Health Leads to Hospitalization
Over the following week, the boy's condition worsened dramatically. He experienced persistent vomiting episodes, suffered from severe abdominal pain, and completely lost his appetite. His mother recalled the frightening development, stating they had no idea when the swallowing incident occurred.
"He was just playing like children usually do," she said. "We didn't realise he had swallowed anything until he started vomiting repeatedly and completely stopped eating."
The child was finally admitted to Surya Hospitals on October 24, nearly a full week after ingesting the magnets. Dr. Prateek Agarwal, the consultant paediatric gastroenterologist who led the case, described the situation as extremely high-risk.
Complex Medical Intervention Required
"Magnets are significantly more dangerous than other swallowed objects," Dr. Agarwal emphasized. Medical imaging revealed multiple magnets of varying sizes inside the patient's body, with some exceeding two centimeters in diameter.
The medical team first attempted an endoscopic procedure, passing a flexible camera through the mouth to remove three magnets located in the stomach and upper intestine. This approach proved successful for those three objects.
However, four magnets had already traveled deeper into the intestines. Because they were magnetized, they had clamped together across the delicate intestinal walls, creating a dangerous situation.
Emergency Surgery Becomes Necessary
"At that point, surgery was the only option," Dr. Agarwal explained. "If we had delayed any further, these magnets could have caused holes in the intestine, leading to severe infection, sepsis, or even death."
The surgical team successfully removed the remaining four magnets. Following the procedure, medical staff placed the child under close observation in the hospital.
Remarkable Recovery and Important Warnings
The boy recovered remarkably well from the ordeal. Doctors discharged him in stable condition on November 1, 2025. A follow-up examination one week later confirmed he had no further complications.
Medical experts noted that the child's attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may have contributed to the impulsive ingestion. This represents a common factor in foreign-body incidents among children.
While such incidents occur most frequently in children between six months and five years old, this case demonstrates that older children remain vulnerable. Doctors stressed that swallowing multiple magnets constitutes a surgical emergency requiring immediate attention.
When magnets attract each other through digestive tract tissue, they can cause:
- Bowel perforation
- Fistula formation
- Intestinal obstruction
- Internal bleeding
- Life-threatening sepsis
Medical professionals urge parents to keep small magnets and magnet-based toys completely out of children's reach. They emphasize seeking immediate emergency care if ingestion is even suspected. In these critical situations, hours can determine the difference between a simple procedure and a fatal outcome.
