A 32-year-old man from China walked into the hospital with what seemed like a routine complaint: stomach pain. At first glance, there was nothing unusual. What the doctors discovered next, however, made the case almost unbelievable.
During a scan at the Longgang Branch of The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, doctors noticed a strange object inside his body. It was lodged in the duodenum, a C-shaped part of the small intestine. The finding was shocking. It was a mercury thermometer, the South China Morning Post reported.
The man, identified only by his surname Wang, then revealed a story he had kept hidden for two decades. At the age of 12, he accidentally swallowed a thermometer.
Fear gripped them. He didn’t tell his parents. He mistakenly believed it would dissolve on its own.
Years passed. Life went on. Mild signs appeared. At times he felt discomfort. However, there was nothing serious enough for him to act on. Or maybe there wasn’t anything he wanted to inquire too closely about. Now, at 32, the past has literally caught up with him.
Doctors discovered that the tip of the thermometer was pressing against the intestinal wall. The risk was serious. A small shift could cause a hole or internal bleeding. The situation demanded immediate action.
The operation was delicate and precise. The object remained inside for 20 years. It was close to vital structures, including the bile ducts. One wrong move could cause a lot of damage. In just 20 minutes, surgeons removed it.
The thermometer came out fine. His marks faded but did not break. No mercury escaped. This detail alone amazed many.
The case quickly went viral on the Internet. Reactions ranged from disbelief to relief. Many called him lucky.
“He’s incredibly lucky. Luckily the thermometer didn’t break and no mercury leaked,” SCMP quoted a social media user as saying.
A toothbrush inside the stomach
In one shocking case, a 64-year-old man discovered a toothbrush inside his body after 52 years.
In June 2024, it was reported that the man hid the incident out of fear. His stomach problems led to tests after five decades.
Doctors removed the 17cm toothbrush during an 80-minute operation. According to experts, he was extremely lucky not to cause serious damage.
More than 1 million people in China seek medical help every year after swallowing foreign objects, according to the Wenzhou Daily. Children make up over 60% of cases. Common items include fish bones, batteries, and dentures.
