A TikTok trend of teenagers using tiny magnets as fake tongue piercings has led the NHS to call for the metal balls to be banned.
The viral challenge is for people to place two magnetic balls on either side of their tongue to create the appearance of a tongue piercing.
However, accidentally swallowing more than one magnet can be life-threatening and cause serious damage within hours.
The NHS said there has been a spike in hospital admissions among older children as many have participated in the online madness, leading the NHS to issue a patient safety alert earlier this month.
According to Worcester News, an 11-year-old was among those who suffered serious complications after swallowing multiple magnets.
Ellis Tripp was hospitalized and had to undergo six hours of surgery to remove five inches of his bowel.
His mother, Amy Clarke, pleaded with other parents on the Tick tock Trend.
“I’m in a nightmare. This TikTok madness could / would have killed him if he stayed longer. Please talk to your children and tell them how DANGEROUS THESE ARE, ”she wrote on Facebook.
A 13-year-old girl is also said to have had major surgery after trying the social media trend.
Her mother, Faye Elizabeth of Rainhill, said her daughter swallowed 15 of the magnetic beads, according to Liverpool Echo.
The tiny balls are less than 6 mm in diameter and can be swallowed easily.
Once ingested, they can be compressed in the intestines or intestines, squeezing the tissue and cutting off the blood supply.
At least 65 children have been hospitalized for urgent surgery in England in the past three years after swallowing magnets.
Professor Simon Kenny, pediatric surgeon and national clinical director for children and adolescents at NHS England, has called for the magnets to be banned.
He said, “Children or their parents don’t enjoy removing swallowed magnets stuck together by different parts of the intestine, or the long-term physical problems and internal scars that may remain.
“I urge parents to be aware of the dangers associated with magnetic toys, but ultimately the only way to prevent future incidents is if we stop selling these items.”
The NHS said anyone who has swallowed magnets should not wait to develop symptoms and go to the emergency room immediately.
TikTok said the security of its online community is its “number one priority”.
A spokesperson said: “Our community guidelines make it clear what type of content is unacceptable on our platform, including content that encourages, encourages, or exalts dangerous behavior that could lead to injury.
“The content in question violates our guidelines and has already been removed from our platform.”