Incidence has increased over time despite implementation of national policies
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Global pediatric magnet ingestion rates remain high and incidence has increased, despite the implementation of national policies, according to a review published online May 20 in Injury Prevention.
Javeria Khader, from the School of Medicine at the University of California Davis Health in Sacramento, and colleagues conducted a comprehensive literature search to summarize global reports of pediatric magnet ingestion and stringency of corresponding national policies. The included studies documented magnet ingestion among those aged 0 to 18 years from 2002 to 2024.
The review included 96 studies from six continents documenting patients requiring hospitalization and/or medical interventions. The researchers found that between one and 5,738 cases were reported in the studies over a range of years; an increase in incidence was seen over time in several studies. National policies were described, mostly in Western nations within the last five years, and included placing warning labels on products, restricting sales, or banning high-powered magnets.
“This study highlights the global problem of pediatric magnet ingestions and the need for more policy-informed injury prevention research regarding pediatric magnet ingestion,” the authors write. “Proper policy-informed research can better inform policy makers and advocates on the most effective policies.”
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