Teenager in China Swallows Six Razor Blades, Naturally Expels Five in Rare Medical Case

Pediatric emergencies are regularly confronted with unexpected situations, often linked to the exploration of the world by the youngest. But some cases exceed the framework of the domestic accident to reveal much deeper medical and psychological issues. Among the most critical situations is the ingestion of foreign bodies, a common phenomenon in children, but sometimes charged with a much more concern for adolescence.

An extraordinary clinical case in a Chinese hospital

History begins in the province of Sichuan, in China, when a 14 -year -old teenager appears at the hospital after swallowing six razor blades. It suffers from abdominal pain but does not present nausea or vomiting. The first examinations reveal the presence of metallic objects in its stomach, its duodenum and its intestine. Fibroscopy removes a blade, but the other five already cross pylorus and become inaccessible. From this moment, doctors must choose attentive monitoring rather than immediate surgery.

Described in the Revue Medicine in August 2025, this clinical case was followed by a team of Chinese gastroenterologists. According to specialists, sharp objects can cause perforations, hemorrhages, and complications in 15 to 35% of cases. For several days, the teenager therefore remains hospitalized under close surveillance. She then receives enemas and paraffin oil to facilitate evacuation. Against all expectations, the five blades still present in its digestive system cross the intestine without incident. Finally, they are naturally expelled in its stool.

The major risks linked to the ingestion of foreign bodies in children

The history of this teenager should not hide the severity of the phenomenon. Ingestion of foreign bodies is one of the most frequent emergencies in pediatrics. According to an Italian study published in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (PGHN), around 10 to 20% of cases require endoscopy and almost 1% surgery. The coins come to the top of the objects swallowed in Europe and North America, followed by button batteries, magnets and sharp objects.

If the majority of swallowed objects cross the digestive tract without complication, some represent a vital danger. The button batteries can release caustic substances and burn the digestive mucosa in a few hours. The magnets, when they attract through the intestinal walls, cause multiple perforations. As for the blades, needles or pieces of glass, their passage can cause severe hemorrhages. The consensus of the International Federation of Pediatric Gastroenterology Companies, published in JPGN Reports, recommends extracting these sharp objects within two to six hours maximum. Beyond that, the chances of succeeding in an endoscopy decrease and the risk of surgery increases considerably.

Psychological pressures and alert signals not to neglect

Behind some extreme cases, there is sometimes great psychological fragility. In China, doctors who followed this teenager evoke very strong school and social pressure. This factor may have influenced his gesture. Unlike frequent domestic accidents in children from 6 months to 4 years old, these cases of voluntary ingestion are different. They more often affect adolescents or adults with psychiatric disorders. For example, the world has reported a significant case that occurred in Spain. Surgeons have operated a 38 -year -old schizophrenic patient there. Over the years, this man had swallowed more than one hundred metal objects.

These self -control behaviors recall that management cannot be limited to the medical procedure. Caregivers insist on the need for psychological support, in particular for young people confronted with disproportionate school or social expectations. Repeated ingestions can reveal deep distress that requires long -term follow -up. According to experts, the most effective approach combines domestic prevention, rapid medical intervention and psychological support.