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Every year in the United States, thousands of people are admitted to hospitals for a reason that rarely appears in public health brochures: foreign objects becoming lodged in the rectum. Emergency physicians say the cases arrive steadily throughout the calendar year, but many note a distinct seasonal pattern. Around major holidays—especially Christmas—objects tied to celebration, decoration, and novelty begin appearing in emergency departments with surprising regularity.
Physicians stress that while these cases may sound unusual, the medical consequences are very real. The rectum is not designed to accommodate rigid, fragile, or irregularly shaped items, and attempts to insert non-medical objects can lead to serious injury, infection, or surgical emergencies.
A Seasonal Pattern Emergency Doctors Recognize
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