Children with genital bleeding and intestinal perforation due to a series of household accidents

(Dan Tri) - Children's hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have continuously recorded cases of injuries and accidents while playing, warning parents about children's safety while playing and living.

On September 4, information from Children's Hospital 2 (HCMC) said that this unit had just received a girl with vaginal bleeding after an accident while playing sports .

According to family members, while playing roller skating, the child fell and hit his buttocks on the floor, causing heavy bleeding from the genital area. The family took the child to the nearest hospital for first aid and then transferred him to Children’s Hospital 2 for further treatment.

Girl had an accident causing genital injury while playing roller skating (Illustration: Unsplash).

At the Emergency Department, the patient was conscious, vital signs were stable but had severe pain in the genital area, the bandage was soaked with blood and had many blood clots covering the wound, making it difficult to fully assess the wound.

The on-duty team of the Nephrology Department bandaged and stopped the bleeding and urgently transferred the baby for emergency surgery to treat the injury.

The surgery lasted more than 1 hour. During the surgery, doctors discovered many deep tears in the vulva and anal verge; fortunately, the urethra and anal canal were not damaged. The team also stitched up the patient's wound. After the surgery, the child's health was stable and he recovered well. The child was discharged after 3 days.

According to Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, Deputy Director of Children's Hospital 2, the above case is a reminder for parents about the risk of genital injuries in young children when participating in sports activities, especially sports that involve speed and are prone to falls such as roller skating, sledding, cycling, slides, etc. Genital injuries in children, although not common, can have serious consequences.

To minimize the risk of injury, parents should always provide full protective gear for children (hats, gloves, helmets, hip and butt pads) when playing sports; supervise children while playing, especially when playing on hard, slippery fields.

When a child falls and has unusual bleeding in the genital area, painful urination, difficulty urinating or swelling, the family should take the child to the hospital immediately for timely assessment and treatment; absolutely do not arbitrarily wash, apply compresses or intervene at home because it can cause more serious injury.

Meanwhile, at the City Children's Hospital (HCMC), Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Deputy Director of the hospital, also said that this unit had just received a child with a perforated intestine due to swallowing a magnet.

Specifically, a boy named LTP (5 years old, residing in Ba Diem commune, Ho Chi Minh City) was admitted to the hospital with restlessness, discomfort, stomachache, and vomiting. These symptoms appeared 3 days before admission and did not improve even though the child took medication.

On the third day, the child had severe abdominal pain, hunched over, no fever, vomited moss-green fluid, and was tired, so he was taken to the City Children's Hospital for examination.

Two long magnetic chains were recorded in the small intestine of the child (Photo: BV)

Here, the child showed signs of abdominal pain, vomiting, and crying. Abdominal X-rays revealed foreign objects in a chain in the small intestine. Ultrasound results showed enteritis and peritonitis. The child was transferred for laparoscopic surgery immediately afterward.

During the surgery, the doctors discovered eight holes in the patient’s small intestine, each about 2-3mm in diameter. The team patched all the holes and removed two sets of magnets, a total of 20. The magnets were rusted, causing serious intestinal damage.

Five days after surgery, the child no longer had abdominal pain or vomiting, and his health was stable. The child continued to be monitored for intestinal mucosal damage as well as gastrointestinal function.

Through this case, Dr. Tien advised parents not to let children play with small toys. In addition, toys for children under 5 years old must have a minimum diameter of 5cm.

When suspecting that your child has swallowed a foreign object, the family should immediately take the child to the hospital for timely treatment. Avoid leaving it for too long as the magnetic balls will damage the intestinal mucosa, perforate the intestine... endangering the child's life.

"It is best that young children are not allowed to play with objects containing magnets or batteries because of the high risk of causing damage to the digestive tract," Dr. Tien shared.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/tre-chay-mau-vung-kin-thung-ruot-vi-hang-loat-tai-nan-sinh-hoat-20250904121103746.htm