Doctors from the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS) issued a warning to parents about the dangers of super strong magnets, the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) reported on 27 April 20221. The warning came after a sharp increase in children needing emergency surgery for bowel complications caused by swallowing the tiny magnets1.
The magnets are found in toys, jewellery and even fridge magnets, and are often bought cheaply from online marketplaces; they can be 10 times stronger than permitted by law1. Mr Ashish Desai, consultant paediatric surgeon at Royal London Hospital and Honorary Secretary of BAPS, said the damage can be rapid1:
"If swallowed, the magnets can stick together in the child's intestines or bowels, squeezing the tissue so the blood supply is cut off. This can cause significant damage within hours."
CAPT reported the case of three-year-old Albie Astirbadi, from Gravesend in Kent, who needed open surgery at Evelina London Children's Hospital after swallowing six of the magnetic balls last year1. An X-ray showed five magnetic balls connected in a line in his intestine, with a sixth ball in his stomach holding them all in place1. His mother, Holly Astirbadi, said the family had a toy containing the magnets to help her other son, who has autism, to focus, and that the balls magnetised together through the tissue of his stomach1. A second CAPT page, published 2 May 2022, carries an account from the mother of a three-year-old boy saying the magnets "burned holes in the intestines"2. The two pages give the same warning and the same guidance; neither reports a total number of cases or a figure for the increase in surgery1.
Mr Desai warned that symptoms can be vague and may be mistaken for a stomach bug or appendicitis1. BAPS has partnered with CAPT to support an Office of Product Safety and Standards campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and advise parents how to keep their children safe1. Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of CAPT, said the trust was worried that a surge in sales from online marketplaces in the run-up to Christmas would expose more children to serious harm, and pointed to its five tips for buying safely1.
Why it matters for households
The warning concerns households with young children, particularly where small magnetic balls or similar items have been bought cheaply online, or where magnetic toys are in the house for another child1. The surgeons' concern is that damage can occur within hours of swallowing, while the symptoms can look like an ordinary illness1. Mr Desai's advice, as reported by CAPT, is that if a child has stomach pain, is vomiting or cannot keep down fluids, and there is a chance they may have swallowed these small magnets, parents should call 999 for an ambulance or go to A&E straight away1. CAPT says its five tips help parents buy safely and keep their children safe1. Our health emergencies hub covers what to do when a child needs urgent medical help.
What happens next
No further dated steps are reported. CAPT's five tips on buying safely and keeping children safe are published on its website1.
