First lockdown sees sharp rise in children swallowing small objects

Of the objects swallowed, button batteries were the most common, followed by magnets. These objects can cause life threatening and life changing injuries and a growing body of evidence shows that small magnetic toys and button batteries are increasingly causing serious harm to children.

Researchers used GOSH’s electronic patient records system to identify children presenting with foreign body ingestion from March to September 2020. This was compared to the same time period the year before as a control.

During the six month period reviewed – which coincided with the first lockdown - two and a half times more children presented with foreign body ingestion (n=25) compared to the control group (n=10) from one year previously.

Of these children, two-thirds required serious surgical intervention during the pandemic period compared with only one third during the control period. 73% of children during the pandemic period also required admission to GOSH, compared with only 40% in the control group.

Three patients admitted during the pandemic period developed significant complications after swallowing either a button battery or magnets. One child needed two reconstructive operations and had a lengthy stay in ICU. Two other children suffered bowel perforations and needed a long surgical admission. In May, NHSE called for a ban on tiny magnetic balls being sold as toys after large numbers of children were admitted to hospital for swallowing them. Ariana Nicolaou, whose three-year-old daughter Melina swallowed magnetic beads in February this year is keen to support the ban. Melina was admitted to GOSH after swallowing 28 beads and had to stay for nine days.

“The beads had to be removed in surgery one by one as they had formed a loop around her small intestines and burnt two holes. Thankfully the holes could be repaired and we know for some children it has been so much worse, but Melina is only now fully recovered from the surgery and it was a traumatic experience for all of us.

“I don’t want this to ever happen to another child. There is no benefit to these beads being sold as toys – they’re just huge risks to children. If I can help one parent not have to go through what we did I will feel happier.”