Man Swallows Coins and Magnets for Zinc Intake

Unusual Case of Ingestion in Delhi

In a peculiar incident in New Delhi, a 26-year-old man was hospitalized after swallowing 39 coins and 37 pieces of magnets. Relatives revealed that he suffers from a mental illness and has a habit of consuming coins.

The young man underwent surgery at a private hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Medical examinations revealed unusual objects in his stomach, leading to the discovery of the swallowed coins and magnets.

According to reports, the patient ingested these items in an attempt to increase zinc levels in his body. The attending laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. Tarun Mittal, noted that X-rays showed coin-like objects, prompting a CT scan that indicated an intestinal blockage caused by the foreign items.

During the surgery, doctors found the coins and magnets trapped in two separate loops of the small intestine, where the magnetic attraction had caused them to stick together. A total of 39 coins, including one, two, and five rupee denominations, along with 37 magnets, were successfully removed. After a week of treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital.