HomeAnswersGeneral Practitionerforeign bodyHow will an old magnet stuck in nasal passage and cause breathing issues?

Is it possible for a magnet to get stuck in nasal passage and cause breathing problem?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Vinodhini J.

Published At March 12, 2020
Reviewed AtJanuary 18, 2024

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am a 26-year-old female. This might sound odd but when I was 11 I was playing with two small round magnets pretending to have a nose piercing in the septum. The magnets stuck together and went up either side of the nose clamping the septum. I panicked and did not tell anyone. About a week later I remember getting tweezers and pulling one out and it smelt bad and looked disgusting. I do not ever remember pulling the other out but I may have because I kind of never really thought about it again until later when I seem to have issues breathing through my nose and always have recurring extremely painful sore throats and swollen tonsils. This makes me panic and remember what happens and if I ever did remove the other magnet and if I did not, would it cause a lot of damage being there for so long? It sounds ridiculous but I do not feel comfortable telling my doctor. Please suggest.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Well, firstly, I would like to assure you, that as doctors we come across much stranger things and hence, it is important to get yourself checked whether the other magnet is still stuck in your nostrils or not. The doctor might do an x-ray of your sinuses, after he thoroughly checks you up, to see if it has dislodged further up. The symptoms you are experiencing are classic of an infected sinus, leading to the spread of that infection to other parts of your upper respiratory tract. It can be possible that the magnet, is compressing one of the sinus openings, leading to secondary infection and hence the symptoms. Please, do not delay any further. Meet your nearest physician as soon as possible, for proper examination and treatment. I know you are embarrassed, but it can be dangerous if this infection is not controlled and spreads to other sites. Thank you and take care.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Krutika Shrikant Ingle
Dr. Krutika Shrikant Ingle

Diabetology

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