Ingested twin ball magnets in a Nepalese boy: swallowed but not forgotten!

Introduction and importance: Swallowed foreign body in children is a common and frequent emergency, with most of them passing through the gut without complications. Ingesting multiple magnets or a magnet along with another metallic object, however, poses a significant risk to the bowel due to potential complications such as obstruction, pressure necrosis, perforation, and fistulation. Case presentation: We report a 5-year-old boy presenting with an alleged history of swallowing twin ball magnets a month prior to presentation, remaining largely asymptomatic until imaging revealed their presence. Acutely, an invasive procedure was avoided by a successful endoscopic retrieval, while close, protracted follow-up showing no complications further reduced the morbidity. Clinical discussion: Swallowed twin magnets may go unnoticed in children, presenting later with varied complications. A high index of suspicion is imperative for diagnosis, while knowledge of the hazards associated with delay can guide the modality of management. Conclusion: Swallowed twin magnets, whenever accessible, can be successfully managed by endoscopic retrieval; however, the possibilities of perforation, bleeding, and bowel fistulation require vigilant observation.