10-Year-Old Boy Saved After Swallowing Over 1 kg of Magnets; Emergency Surgery at Mira Road Hospital
Virar, 31st July 2026: A 10-year-old autistic boy was saved after doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, successfully performed emergency surgery to remove more than one kilogram of magnetic objects that he had accidentally swallowed while playing.
The child, whose identity has been withheld, was brought to the hospital after suffering from severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting. Initially suspected to be a routine stomach ailment, medical investigations revealed that he had ingested multiple small magnets, creating a life-threatening medical emergency.
The boy has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a condition in which children may sometimes put non-food objects into their mouths. Doctors explained that swallowing multiple magnets is extremely dangerous, as they can attract each other through different sections of the intestine, leading to bowel obstruction, perforation, infection, and potentially fatal complications.
Dr. Badshah Khan, Consultant Paediatrician at Wockhardt Hospitals, immediately suspected an intestinal obstruction based on the child’s symptoms and admitted him for urgent treatment. An X-ray detected metallic objects in the abdomen, while a CT scan confirmed that the magnets were lodged in the small intestine. A colonoscopy performed by Dr. Binal Shah found that the magnets had not yet reached the large intestine.
Following the diagnosis, surgeons Dr. Bhavesh Doshi and Dr. Pradeep Shenoy carried out an emergency operation to safely remove all the magnets from the child’s small intestine. Doctors said the timely intervention prevented intestinal perforation and permanent damage. The boy recovered well after surgery and was discharged from the hospital a week later.
Dr. Khan urged parents not to ignore incidents where children may have swallowed magnets. “Many parents assume that small swallowed objects will pass naturally, but magnets are extremely dangerous. Even two small magnets can attract each other through the intestinal wall, cutting off blood supply and causing perforation and severe infection. Parents of children with autism should remain especially vigilant,” he said.
Dr. Doshi described the ingestion of multiple magnets as one of the most dangerous paediatric emergencies. He advised parents to seek immediate medical attention if they suspect a child has swallowed magnets or button batteries, as prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious complications and major surgery.
Medical experts also advised parents to keep magnetic toys, magnetic beads, button batteries, coins, and other small metallic objects out of children’s reach. They warned against attempting to induce vomiting at home and stressed that immediate medical evaluation is crucial if ingestion is suspected.
