Dangerous toys: the expanding problem of water-absorbing beads.

j 12 D e ce m b e r 2 0 16 W when immersed in water. They begin as small pellets (1e15 mm) but expand to as much as 6 cm in diameter (Box 1). Water beads have been marketed for some time for decorative and horticultural purposes, but have recently been promoted as toys (fairy eggs, dragon eggs, jelly beads, water orbs, hydro orbs, polymer beads, gel beads) and as learning aids for autistic children. Due to their progressive expansion after being immersed in fluids, they present a unique foreign body challenge. Whilemost objects that pass the pyloruswill also pass through the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, water-absorbing beads that pass the pylorus can later pose an obstruction risk as they swell. There have been reports of serious bowel obstruction (including one death) in children ingesting water beads.