Latest news with #NigelHall
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Hundreds of children hospitalised amid terrifying magnet trend sweeping UK
Alarming new figures show how hundreds of children are being admitted to hospital after swallowing magnets - with some of them suffering devastating lifelong complications as a result Hundreds of children are being rushed to A&E every year after swallowing magnets, experts have warned. Around 300 young people were hospitalised in Britain last year after consuming them, researchers found - and one in 10 of these needed urgent life-saving operations. Many among the more serious cases were left with serious medical problems, including having parts of their bowels removed, or needing a stoma. It comes amid a trend for small, magnetic parts in children's toys, typically beads, which often superficially resemble sweets. Once eaten, they can tear through the digestive system and into vital organs, with parents often only realising what's happened when their child becomes ill. Around 6% of the swallowing incidents were linked to a viral TikTok trend which involves placing magnets on a participant's tongue to imitate a piercing. The new figures have prompted calls for toy manufacturers and retailers to put more visible warnings on packaging so as to alert parents to the possible life-changing impacts of their children swallowing the magnets. Professor of Paediatric Surgery Nigel Hall, who led the study, said: "These magnets have potential to harm a large number of children and young people and increase work for the NHS. "Yet many magnetic toys provide very little warning for parents and caregivers of the dangers they pose, particularly those purchased from online marketplaces. "Having an unplanned emergency operation is a traumatic experience for any child and their family – and needing a surgical procedure means time in hospital for days after. "Around one in 10 of these young patients had surgery with most ending up with serious problems, like needing part of their bowel removed or requiring a stoma." He added that "most children who have swallowed a magnet do not show any symptoms", meaning it was "really important that all cases have an X-ray to find out for certain." It comes after a coroner heard last year how eight-year-old Rhys Millum tragically died after swallowing ten silver magnets measuring 3mm each. The objects had all stuck together in a 30mm long row in his bowel - but the cause of his illness was only revealed by a full body CT scan several days after he died. Northallerton Coroner's Court was told that the magnets were among a number of toys that had been given to Rhys and his brother by a family friend during a house clear-out. The boy's mum told the court that they believed he may have watched TikTok videos before putting the magnets in his mouth. If your child swallows a magnet, the NHS advises seeking immediate medical help by going to A&E, or calling 999 if they have symptoms like vomiting, drooling, or abdominal pain. Small magnets and magnetic toys should always be kept out of reach of children to prevent accidents.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors warn of magnetic toy risk to children
About 300 children a year are admitted to A&E in the UK after swallowing magnets, a new study has found. The University of Southampton research revealed that one in 10 children required life saving operations after consuming the items, which are commonly used in toys. Lead author and professor of paediatric surgery Nigel Hall, who works at the University and Southampton Children's Hospital, said retailers must do more to increase warnings on magnetic toy labels. "Having an unplanned emergency operation is a traumatic experience for any child and their family," he said. Mr Hall added that some of the young people ended up "with serious problems, like needing part of their bowel removed or requiring a stoma". The data was provided by 66 UK hospitals between May 2022 and April 2023. The study also found that 6% of swallowing cases were linked to viral social media trends, where the children – mostly girls - were trying to imitate tongue piercings by placing small magnets in their mouths. Mr Hall stressed that children should be taken to emergency departments early if they swallow a magnet. "Most children who have swallowed a magnet do not show any symptoms, so it is really important that all cases have an x-ray to find out for certain," he said. The research has been welcomed by the Child Accident Prevention Trust which focuses on preventing death and serious injury to young people from avoidable accidents. Its chief executive Katrina Phillips said: "These super strong magnets can rip through a child's guts and leave them with life-changing injuries. One boy has died. "Take a moment to check who you're buying from. Don't assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Big drop in child surgery for swallowed objects Girl, 6, needed surgery after swallowing magnets Boy's gut partly removed after swallowing magnets University of Southampton
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Doctors warn of the risks of children swallowing magnetic toys
About 300 children a year are admitted to A&E in the UK after swallowing magnets, a new study has University of Southampton research revealed that one in 10 children required life saving operations after consuming the items, which are commonly used in author and Professor of Paediatric Surgery Nigel Hall, who works at the University and Southampton Children's Hospital, said retailers must do more to increase warnings on magnetic toy labels."Having an unplanned emergency operation is a traumatic experience for any child and their family," he said. Mr Hall added that some of the young people ended up "with serious problems, like needing part of their bowel removed or requiring a stoma".The data was provided by 66 UK hospitals between May 2022 and April study also found that 6% of swallowing cases were linked to viral social media trends, where the children – mostly girls - were trying to imitate tongue piercings by placing small magnets in their Hall stressed that children should be taken to emergency departments early if they swallow a magnet."Most children who have swallowed a magnet do not show any symptoms, so it is really important that all cases have an x-ray to find out for certain," he said. The research has been welcomed by the Child Accident Prevention Trust, which focuses on preventing death and serious injury to young people from avoidable chief executive Katrina Phillips OBE said: "These super strong magnets can rip through a child's guts and leave them with life-changing injuries. One boy has died."Take a moment to check who you're buying from. Don't assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
