Risks of Water Bead Ingestion Available to Purchase

In this month’s issue of Pediatrics, Haugen et al describe the risks of water bead ingestion.¹ Water beads consist of water-absorbent polymers made of polyacrylamide that can expand from ∼0.2 to 56 mm in diameter in the gastrointestinal tract or other orifices, causing obstruction, tissue perforation, and death.² Water beads are marketed as sensory-based therapies for children with autism and sensory processing disorders, as toys, or to maintain moisture in garden planters.² Haugen et al present a case of a child who developed a small bowel obstruction that was diagnosed by abdominal imaging (ultrasound and computed tomography) and managed by laparotomy.¹ The surgical specimens included “pink-red fragments of firm gelatinous water bead” materials. After recovery, the child, who previously had exhibited normal developmental milestones, developed neurologic features consistent with acrylamide toxicity, including altered gait, weakness, peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive impairment.³ 

This case report is...