An incident was reported in New Delhi, India, in which a 26-year-old resident swallowed 39 coins and 37 magnets. According to reports from Sir Ganga Ram HospitalIn the city of the same name, the patient said he consumed these metallic elements because he believed zinc had beneficial properties for building muscle, the New York Post reported.
What symptoms did you have after taking the coins and magnets?
Over the last 20 days of taking these items, the man experienced unwanted symptoms such as: Vomiting and severe abdominal pain. This clinical picture led him to seek medical attention at the said hospital, where an x-ray was carried out. The results of this study diagnosed the presence of significant abnormalities.
After analyzing the X-ray images, the medical team conducted a CT scan, which revealed an obstruction in the intestines. This situation required immediate surgical intervention to remove 37 magnets of various shapes, including stars, spheres, triangles and hearts 39 coins of denominations of one, two and five rupees. This process was reported by The Financial Express of India.
After ingesting the coins and magnets in the last 20 days, the person started showing serious symptoms. Photo: Istock/Ref.
During the surgical interventionThese objects were found to be distributed in two different sections of the small intestine. This led to the formation of an anastomosis, a medical term that describes the creation of a connection between blood vessels or loops of intestine, according to Medline Plus. The patient's identity remains anonymous, but his family members have revealed that he was being treated for a psychiatric illness.
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What is Zinc?
Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a metal that belongs to group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is bluish-white in color and occurs naturally primarily in the form of sulfide minerals. It is the fourth most used metal in the world after iron, aluminum and copper.
This element is vital and plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes. It acts as a cofactor for more than 300 enzymes that facilitate chemical reactions in the body; In this way, it contributes to protein synthesis, cell division, tissue growth and repair, and the proper functioning of the immune system. Furthermore, the zinc It is important for the sense of taste and smell. In addition, it plays a role in wound healing and prevention of age-related macular degeneration.
The human body cannot store zinc, so it is necessary to consume it regularly through food. Foods such as meat, fish, shellfish, nuts, legumes and whole grains are rich sources of zinc. A deficiency of this mineral can lead to growth problems, reduced immune function, hair loss, diarrhea and delayed wound healing, among other things.