Accidental ingestion of magnets by children Half of cases Aichi Medical University survey without witnessing adults November 19, 4:35
When Aichi Medical University investigated cases where a child accidentally swallowed a magnet, it was found that in half of the cases, adults did not see the moment of swallowing.
The doctors surveyed are calling for measures to prevent accidents when adults take their eyes off.
If a child accidentally swallows a magnet, in severe cases it can get caught in the magnet and puncture the intestines.
Aichi Medical University surveyed 496 medical institutions nationwide that are training pediatric specialists for accidental ingestion of magnets, and received responses from 337 locations.
As a result, there were 104 cases of accidental ingestion of magnets by children in the three years up to 2017, of which 59 cases were under 2 years old, accounting for 57% of the total.
The breakdown by type
of magnet is
▽
44 magnets for posting such as attached to whiteboards and refrigerators,
▽ 36 toys using magnets.
In addition, when we investigated the situation when the magnet was swallowed, in 52 out of 104 cases, adults did not see the moment when the child swallowed it.
Assistant Professor Ryosuke Miyamoto of the Department of Pediatrics, Aichi Medical University Hospital, who conducted the survey, said, "There are many accidents caused by accidental ingestion when adults take their eyes off, and there are many accidents caused by toys. I want you to choose a large magnet or keep a small magnet out of the reach of children. "