Prague Hospital Treats Children After TikTok Magnet Challenge

prague - A hospital in Prague is treating five children who swallowed magnetic balls while pretending to have a tongue piercing for TikTok. Two children may need surgery.

A hospital in Prague is currently treating five children who accidentally swallowed magnetic balls while participating in a TikTok challenge where they pretended to have tongue piercings. According to the hospital, two of the children may require emergency surgery.

The children participated in the 'piercing challenge,' as stated by Motol University Hospital in the Czech capital. 'One patient was lucky as the magnets easily left the body on their own, but others are still staying in the hospital, and two are likely to undergo emergency surgery today.'

The hospital warns that patients who have swallowed magnetic objects are at risk. 'They may attract the stomach and intestines towards each other, leading to potential damage, or even causing a perforation or inflammation.'

The hospital mentioned the death of an 8-year-old boy in England in 2022 who had ingested ten magnets, possibly also due to TikTok influence. The child eventually died from a intestinal perforation. His story made headlines earlier this year.