Recently two cases of accidental ingestion of magnetic balls by children under 3 years old were reported to the health authorities. The latter (General Directorate for Health, Anses, DGCCRF and Public Health France) have therefore issued a joint alert for the attention of parents, reminding them that “should strictly keep objects containing magnetic balls out of the reach of children, who could in particular confuse them with sweets, and swallow them”.
Products containing magnetic beads (building blocks or anti-stress desk gadgets) are not intended for children under 14: they are therefore not subject to any specific regulations. But for safety, they must be kept out of their reach because they can in particular swallow them, as is the case with button batteries.
What are the risks of ingestion?
Magnetic marbles are more dangerous than simple glass marbles or coins that the child could also swallow. Once ingested, they can in fact clump together, obstruct the digestive tract and tear the intestinal walls causing perforations. The most serious cases require major surgery and can be life-threatening for children.
What to do in case of ingestion?
Even if you only “assume” your child has swallowed a marble, don’t wait and call a poison control center immediately who will give you medical advice and what to do. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 15 or 112.
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