Experts say magnets should be removed right away if they're stuck in the esophagus and quickly taken out of the stomach if more than one is swallowed or if symptoms like belly pain, vomiting or fever appear. These signs could mean the magnets are causing serious internal damage. ????? ???????

While a single magnet may eventually pass through a child's body on its own, ingesting multiple magnets carries a high risk of serious complications including intestinal obstruction or rupture, which in the most extreme cases can lead to death. ????????????  

The findings suggest that the 2022 safety regulations may not go far enough, Dr. Alexandra Jones, a general surgery resident at UC Davis Health and author of the study, told ABC News. ?????  

The new study found that the U.S. reported between 522 and 2,000 magnet ingestion cases each year. These numbers may reflect both better reporting and easier access to magnets, but they likely still underestimate the true total. ????? ???????  

To better protect kids, the CPSC in 2022 set strict rules on the size and strength of loose magnets. The agency banned small magnets that can fit in a child's airway if they have a strong magnetic pull, which is measured with something called a flux index. ????????????