![]() Reports of multiple magnet ingestion and its complications have been steadily increasing over the past few years, with over 15 cases being reported in the literature over 7 mo in 2012 compared to 10 cases in 2010, and two cases per year about a decade ago. However, multiple magnet ingestion, the subsequent potential complications and the importance of the early identification and proper management remain both under-recognized and underestimated. The issues of foreign body ingestion have been well discussed in the literature. Subsequent fistulization between bowel loops can remain silent until it leaks and peritonitis intervenes. However, the ingestion of multiple magnets or a single magnet along with another metallic piece poses a totally different challenge as these magnetic elements can get attracted to each other with forces up to 1300 G and any intervening bowel wall between the attracted parts eventually undergoing pressure necrosis. The single magnet in most cases moves through the gut harmlessly and silently and usually gets expelled without complications. Ingestion of a confirmed single magnet by itself does not pose a problem because it behaves just as an isolated foreign body. Of particular concern is the diagnostic and management dilemma that is posed by the ingestion of magnetic elements. More than three quarters of such cases occur in children. Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common clinical problem the occurrence of which has been steadily increasing all over the world. The goal of managing such cases of suspected magnet ingestion should be aimed at reducing delays between ingestion time, diagnosis time and intervention time. Proper education and improved awareness among parents and carers and frontline medical staff is key in addressing this rapidly emerging problem. ![]() ![]() Prevention of this condition remains a much better option than cure. There still seems to be no consensus on the management of magnet ingestion with several algorithms being proposed for management. The increasing number of complications worldwide being reported secondary to magnet ingestion point not only to an acute lack of awareness about this condition among the medical profession but also among parents and carers who will be in most cases the first to pick up on magnet ingestion. Published literature on such cases could possibly represent only the tip of an iceberg with press reports, web blogs and government documents highlighting further occurrence of many more such incidents. Reports of magnet ingestion are increasing rapidly globally.
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