Israeli Hospital Treats Two Children Who Swallowed Dangerous Objects Within Two Weeks

At Emek Medical Center in Israel, doctors recently treated two severe cases involving children who ingested hazardous foreign objects. The first case involved a 4-year-old boy who swallowed a button battery. His mother noticed immediately and brought him to the hospital, where doctors performed an emergency endoscopy to remove the battery. Although the battery was extracted successfully, the boy suffered minor esophageal damage due to the chemical burns that can occur within hours if the battery remains lodged. Dr. Firas Rinawi, head of pediatric gastroenterology, emphasized the urgency of immediate hospital visits in such cases, warning that button batteries can cause life-threatening injuries including esophageal perforation and damage to vocal cords or major blood vessels if not treated promptly.

The second case was more complex: a 5-year-old girl swallowed 16 small magnets from a toy. Unlike the battery, the magnets had already passed into the digestive tract and caused severe damage by attracting each other through intestinal walls, leading to necrosis, tears, and multiple perforations. Dr. Mark Arkowitz, head of pediatric surgery, explained that the child required urgent surgery to remove the magnets and repair the intestinal damage by reconnecting the bowel ends. The operation was successful, and the girl is currently recovering. He stressed that magnet ingestion can be fatal if not diagnosed early, as symptoms may initially be mild or absent.

Medical staff at Emek Medical Center urge parents to be vigilant about small objects like button batteries and magnets, which are common in household items and toys. Dr. Natanel Levi, senior anesthesiologist, highlighted prevention as the best approach and advised immediate medical evaluation if ingestion is suspected, even without symptoms. Early detection and treatment can prevent complex surgeries and save lives, especially during school vacations when children are more exposed to such risks.