An X-ray showing four magnets attached to each other inside a child's abdomen The US regulators have issued warning about high-powered magnets marketed as desktop toys and stress relievers for adults saying that they can pose deadly threats to children.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) warned parents on Thursday that the tiny magnets if swallowed by children can attract each other inside the body and cause small holes in the stomach and intestines, intestinal blockage, blood poisoning or other potentially fatal complications.
The CPSC said it has been receiving reports of complications related to high-powered ball-bearing magnets since 2009 including one in 2009, seven in 2010 and 14 through October 2011.
These 22 incidents have involved children between 18 months to 15 years old but although the risk scenarios differ by age group, the incidents were all the same.
Reportedly, 17 incidents involved magnet ingestion and 11 needed surgical intervention for removing the magnets by fixing the children's damaged stomach and intestines.
The safety commission also warned that adolescents usually use the magnets to mimic body piercings, placing two or more of them on opposite sides of their tongues and then accidentally swallow them.
“We want parents to be aware of the danger associated with these innocent looking magnets,” said CPSC chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum.
“The potential for serious injury and death if multiple magnets are swallowed demands that parents and medical professionals be aware of this hidden hazard and know how to treat a child in distress,” she added.
The early symptoms can pose as a cold or the flu and send children to the doctor for many times before a definite diagnosis of the blockage is made after an X-ray study.
Experts recommended parents keep magnets away from young children and regularly inspect for missed or loose magnet pieces.
They also advised parents to seek medical attention immediately if a magnet is swallowed by any of their children.
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