title: [Near fatal attraction of ingested magnets].
abstract: We report a case of intestinal perforation in a 20 month old girl following the ingestion of 2 small magnets. Ingestion of multiple magnets constitutes a unique problem. Magnets in adjacent intestinal loops may forcefully attract each other and produce pressure necrosis of the bowel wall, leading to perforation, fistula formation or intestinal obstruction. Therefore, these children should be observed carefully. Early surgical intervention should be considered when clinical symptoms develop, especially when, on sequential abdominal radiographs, there is no change in the magnets' location. Since toys with small magnets are ubiquitous, efforts should be made to increase parents' awareness on the one hand, and to alert toy manufacturers on the other hand.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Department, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer.
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Munchak
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yardeni
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Michalle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soudack-Ben Nun
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Augarten
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D059346:Magnets / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000293:injuries