New study results show that water-absorbing beads pose a growing threat to children

Over the last decade, water-absorbing beads, commonly found in children’s toys, home decorations and garden products, have become a significant hazard to young children. These superabsorbent polymer beads (SAP), which can expand to 400 times their original size when in contact with liquid, have led to an increasing number of life-threatening intestinal obstructions, particularly in children under 5 years of age.

New research presented at the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, held September 27 to October 1 in Orlando, sheds light on this growing problem. The study, “The Hidden Dangers: Superabsorbent polymer beads (SAP) as an increasing cause of intestinal obstruction in children,” included both a systematic review of existing cases and an innovative in vitro experiment aimed at downsizing expanded SAP beads for surgical use to avoid interventions.

According to lead author Bryanna Emr, MD, FACS, a pediatric surgeon, “Water beads can pose serious risks if swallowed, including choking and intestinal obstruction requiring surgery.” If you have young children, it’s best not to keep these beads at home have.”

The study identified 88 patients across 46 studies who experienced intestinal obstruction after ingesting water pearls, in addition to one new case from the research facility. Most of these patients were children around 14 months old, and 64% of cases were girls. Vomiting (92%) and flatulence (48%) were the most common symptoms. Although abdominal x-ray was performed in 74% of cases, only 5.4% were able to successfully visualize the beads. However, ultrasound was significantly more effective and was able to detect the foreign body in 85.7% of cases.

The study also found that most intestinal obstructions occurred in the jejunum (42%) or ileum (44%) and 84% of affected children required surgery. The average size of beads removed during surgery was 33.7 mm, with complications occurring in 18.4% of cases. These complications often required additional surgeries to remove beads that had been missed during the initial procedure. In addition, 1 death was reported.

To reduce the need for surgical procedures, researchers conducted an in vitro experiment to explore methods for shrinking expanded SAP beads. As part of the experiment, the beads were grown in a simulated intestinal environment and various liquids with different osmolarities were tested. The results were promising: GoLYTELY, a hyperosmolar bowel preparation solution, reduced the size of the beads by 37% within 12 hours. Other liquids, including gastrografin, prune juice and acetylcysteine, were also tested for their potential to shrink the beads.

“Water beads are a growing problem for young children and more awareness needs to be raised about the risks of ingestion,” Emr said. “Despite the recall of some children’s toys containing water beads, they continue to be widely used in home decorations, garden supplies and craft materials. They have a soft texture and often bright colors, making them easy to swallow and attractive to young children.”

The increasing number of cases highlights the need for better education about the dangers posed by water-absorbing beads. The study concludes that, in addition to raising awareness, further research should focus on refining non-surgical treatments with hyperosmolar agents to reduce the size of the beads and potentially avoid invasive procedures altogether.

Reference:

Water-absorbing beads pose an increasing danger to young children; Researchers are testing methods to make them smaller. Eurekalert. September 27, 2024. Accessed September 29, 2024.