A 13-year-old teenager in New Zealand underwent intestinal surgery after swallowing between 80 and 100 neodymium magnets. The case once again highlighted the debate about the safety of products sold online, especially since these magnets have been banned in the country since 2013.
After several days of abdominal pain, a 13-year-old boy ended up having to undergo intestinal surgery. The reason? He had swallowed between 80 and 100 high-power magnets that he bought online through digital commerce platform, . The case occurred in New Zealand and was publicized by .
The magnets of neodymiuma chemical element used in the production of computers, smartphones and televisionsas explained by they had a dimension 5×2 millimeters.
According to the which cites the New Zealand publication, the 13-year-old had ingested the objects approximately a week before. The magnets were found inside the intestine, aligned in four straight lines and joined together due to magnetic force.
The doctors explained that the pressure from the magnets caused necrosis in four areas of the boy’s intestine. Surgeons removed the dead tissue and removed the magnets, and the child was discharged after eight days.
The study authors, Binura Lekamalage, Lucinda Duncan-Were and Nicola Davis, warned of the dangers of ingesting magnets.anes, which can perforate the intestines and put children’s lives at risk.
Magnets have been banned in New Zealand since 2013
The case of the 13-year-old is put New Zealand on alertsince the The sale of magnets was banned more than 10 years ago in the country. The ease with which children are able to acquire these types of objects worries parents, authorities and health professionals.
The teacher Alex Simsyes cited by explains that this type of magnets are usually sold as a toy for childrenas it allows you to build different shapes.
New Zealand law prohibits the sale of these magnets to personal or home usebut allows its use in ieducational institutions or other products.
Temu has already reacted to the case of the 13-year-old
A digital commerce platform regretted the incident involving the surgery of the young man, whose identity was not revealed. A company spokesperson stated that a internal review and that the authors of the New Zealand Medical Journal article were contacted for more information about the case.
Temu further stated that “takes product safety very seriously” and that it “continuously monitors its platform” to ensure that users “sellers comply with safety standards” of the markets in which they operate.
