In a bizarre incident, a 26-year-old man was admitted to Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after experiencing repeated vomiting and abdominal pain for over 20 days. The cause of his discomfort was found to be 39 coins and 37 magnets lodged in his intestine. The patient had swallowed these objects under the belief that zinc, a component of the coins, aids in body-building.
The man’s family revealed that he was undergoing treatment for a known psychiatric illness. They also shared that he had a history of consuming coins and magnets over the past few weeks. This unusual eating habit, known as pica, is often associated with certain psychiatric and developmental disorders.
An X-ray of the patient’s abdomen revealed the presence of the foreign objects, leading to an immediate surgical intervention. The operation was successful, and all 76 objects were safely removed from his intestine. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the potential physical dangers of untreated psychiatric conditions.
