Magnets in kids’ toys hazardous, study warns

Cincinnati, United States, December 18: Toys with strong magnets that can be swallowed by children could pose broad health dangers, a study featuring online in the journal Pediatric Radiology warns.

A set of magnets or magnetic components or a magnet with its corresponding metal piece, when ingested, forcefully attract and stick to each other across the bowel wall.

Besides causing grave injury, the magnetic attraction through intestinal walls can cause digestive tract infections. They can also cause perforations (holes), block intestines, blood poisoning (sepsis) and even death.

The ingested magnets can only be removed surgically, which at times could require a removal of certain sections of the intestines, researchers cautioned.

The study also unearths the casual approach adopted by parents while buying kids’ toys. Making matters worse, in case of swallowing incidents, parents decline seeking medical help as quickly as necessary.

The findings are based on an analysis of 128 magnet-swallowing cases.

Outlining the findings, Dr. Alan Oestreich, Professor of radiology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said, "The majority of swallowed magnetic objects were components of toy sets, including many well-known brands."

In addition, more than 16 percent of the children who had swallowed magnets were autistic or had other developmental issues, Oestreich highlighted.

Symptoms of ingestion may be typically flu like. But non-specific abdominal symptoms like abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea should be monitored vigilantly. Seek immediate medical advice if you suspect your child may have swallowed a magnet.

"One should consider requesting a plain radiograph of the abdomendefine if symptoms are not immediately attributable to an illness and/or the parent suspects the child may have swallowed magnets," Oestreich recommends.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines, magnetic toys or toys which contain magnetic components should not be used by kids below the age of 8 years.

Public use objects like pins, battery cells, etc., which also contain small magnets, also pose the same hazard, researchers cautioned and, thus, these should be out of reach of children as well.