Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Powerful Magnets in Toys Pose a Hazard to Children NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 07 - Small, powerful, rare-earth magnets imperil children who swallow them, according to an article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for December 8. Such magnets can attach to each other across intestinal walls, causing obstructions and perforations. Dr. J. Midgett, at the Consumer Product Safety Commission and associates identified 20 children since 2003 who sustained severe gastrointestinal injuries after swallowing magnets. The magnets were dislodged from toys in the 16 cases for which the source was known. The children's ages ranged from 10 months to 11.5 years. Eighty percent of them were 3 years old or older, and 80% were boys. Two of the children, ages 2.5 and 3.5 years, thought the magnets were candy. The two oldest children had intentionally swallowed magnets, in one case as an experiment, and as a result of a dare at school in the other case. Two children swallowed one magnet plus a metal object. The other patients swallowed up to 15 magnets each. The authors point out that five children had conditions that could put them at risk of abnormal behavior, including autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental delay and neurologic disorder. One patient died, and the other 19 required gastrointestinal surgery. Bowel perforations were identified in 15 cases, bowel obstruction and peritonitis each were cited in four cases, and volvulus in three. Some of the patients required intensive care. Dr. Midgett's group notes that symptoms associated with magnet ingestion are nonspecific, and radiographs may not show that objects are magnetic and if they are in separate sections of the GI tract. The authors suggest that physicians pass a compass over the patient's abdomen as a way to determine what kind of object is involved. They also advise parents and other caregivers to keep products with magnets out of reach of children younger than 6 years old. If they suspect that magnets have been swallowed, they should seek health care as soon as possible. Mor Mortal Wkly Rep CDC Surveill Summ 2006;55:1296-1300. ____________________________________ Reuters Health Information 2006. © 2006 Reuters Ltd. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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