By Sasha Margulies, iHeart Media
Apr 29, 2021
Local health experts are warning parents of a rise in children swallowing magnetic toys.
UC Davis Health officials say a higher number of kids are being sent to the ER after ingesting tiny rare-earth magnets. The magnets can damage or tear intestinal walls when the two sides are pulled together inside the stomach. From 2018 to 2019, a study by the National Poison Data System shows a nearly 450% increase in magnet-related injuries. The NPDS suggests the spike may be due to magnetic toys recently getting the legal permission to be sold in stores again. In an interview with the Sac Bee, one UC Davis health expert says they receive roughly one of these cases each month.
Minneapolis-area hospitals see rise in children swallowing magnets About half of all children who swallow these super strong magnets will require surgery for removal, M Health Fairview Dr. Boris Sudel said.
Credit: M Health Fairview Author: Alexa Mencia Updated: 12:47 PM CDT April 16, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS Minneapolis-area hospitals are seeing an uptick in cases of children swallowing magnets, mirroring a trend reported nationally after a ban on high-powered magnets was lifted.
M Health Fairview officials said its hospitals have treated an increase in the number of children who ve ingested magnets, citing a U.S. Court of Appeals decision to overturn the high-powered magnets ban five years ago.
Attention, parents: In case you need more worry for your children now, check out those coin-shaped batteries all over your house and the sets of small, extremely powerful magnets sold as desk toys.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that in just six months last year, the number of children treated in emergency departments for swallowing batteries rose 93%.
Meanwhile, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus reported this month that in 2018 and 2019, the average number of calls to poison control centers for children exposed to the small magnets increased 444%. The study found a 355% increase in the number of cases that required hospital care.
Take that out of your mouth: Battery, magnet exposures up, studies find cantonrep.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cantonrep.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.