Ingestion of multiple magnets: hazardous foreign bodies for children

We report a case of perforation, fistula formation, and small bowel obstruction in a 2-year-old child who had ingested 32 small magnets. Multiple magnets will attract one another through the bowel wall and lead to pressure necrosis with complications. We recommend early surgical intervention before the onset of gastrointestinal complications if ingested multiple magnets have not moved on the follow-up radiograph. Both clinicians and the lay population need to be aware that multiple magnets can be hazardous foreign bodies for children. Keywords Multiple magnet ingestion * Intestinal foreign body * Magnet ingestion * Small-bowel obstruction * Fistula perforation DOI 10.1007/s00247-005-0056-3