U.S. Child Dies from Swallowing Magnets

One U.S. child has died, and nineteen other children have needed surgery since 2003 after swallowing magnets from toys. Most of the cases have tiny but strong "rare earth" magnets that can link together in children's digestive tracts, squeezing and perforating the intestines.

The magnets, made of neodymium iron baron or other compounds, have said to be common in the toy industry because they are cheaper to produce. A twenty month old boy died just two days after he complained of stomach aches and was vomiting. When doctors did an autopsy, they found nine small magnets stacked together. The magnets had caused blood infections and twisting of the bowels.

The magnets had come off a building set that belonged to an older brother. Mega Brands, Inc. has agreed to add warning labels to the products and to pay $13.5 million to settle lawsuits.

Sam McCloud, Associate Editor