Peru doctors save toddler who swallowed eight medical needles

Local media reported that the needles were used to vaccinate farm animals where the boy's mother works.

 A syringe is filled with a dose of Pfizer's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a pop-up community vaccination center in Valley Stream, New York (photo credit: REUTERS)
A syringe is filled with a dose of Pfizer's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a pop-up community vaccination center in Valley Stream, New York
(photo credit: REUTERS)

 Doctors in northeastern Peru saved the life of a 2-year-old boy who had swallowed eight injection needles while playing.

"It was once we were in the operating room and we opened up his abdomen that we found those metal pieces, (and realized) they were really needles," Dr. Efrain Salazar said.

Local media reported that the needles were used to vaccinate farm animals where the boy's mother works.

The boy, whose name was not revealed, lives in agricultural area of Taratopo, some 622 kilometers (386 miles) from capital Lima.

How did the boy access the needles?

"Maybe he swallowed them when he was there playing," the boy's mother said.

The boy's life was not at risk following surgery, local media added.

Star of David with “Life” inside threatens life of toddler when swallowed (credit: COURTESY KAPLAN MEDICAL CENTER)
Star of David with “Life” inside threatens life of toddler when swallowed (credit: COURTESY KAPLAN MEDICAL CENTER)