Courteous sneezes can backfire, doctors warn

BRITAIN: When sitting in a quiet theatre or a packed train, stifling a sneeze by holding the nose and closing the mouth may seem like the courteous option.

However, doctors have warned against the polite practice, after a man ruptured the back of his throat while trying to contain the convulsive explosion of air.

The 34-year-old was admitted to hospital barely able to swallow or speak after pinching his nose and clamping shut his mouth to stop a sneeze. When doctors examined him, they also heard strange popping and crackling sounds, which extended from his neck all the way down to his ribcage. A scan confirmed that air from his lungs had bubbled its way into the deep tissue and muscles of the chest.

Ear, nose and throat specialists at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust released details of the man’s condition in BMJ Case Reports and warned that trying to contain a forceful sneeze could lead to ‘‘numerous complications’’ and even a lethal brain aneurysm.

‘‘Halting sneezing via blocking the nostrils and mouth is a dangerous manoeuvre, and should be avoided,’’ said Dr Wanding Yang, lead author. ‘‘It may lead to numerous complications, such as pseudomediastinum (air trapped in the chest between both lungs), perforation of the tympanic membrane (perforated ear- drum), and even rupture of a cerebral aneurysm.’’

Doctors said the man’s condition was similar to Boerhaave’s syndrome, in which the oesophagus is torn as a result of intense retching or vomiting.

But in his case, the buildup of pressure from the trapped sneeze caused a rupture higher up in the throat, at the pharynx, which is situated just behind the tongue.

Sneezes are powerful, travelling up to 320kmh, according to MIT scientists, with the power to eject debris up to six metres.

Previously, people have been admitted to hospital suffering from burst eardrums, ruptured blood vessels in the eyes, damaged facial nerves, pulled muscles and even cracked ribs from trying to contain the huge force.

The patient was admitted to hospital, where he was fed by a tube and given intravenous antibiotics until the swelling and pain had subsided.

After seven days, the man, who has not been identified, was well enough to be discharged, with the advice not to block both nostrils when sneezing in future.

For people still needing to suppress a sneeze, experts advise rubbing the nose, breathing heavily through the nose, or rubbing the area above the lip.

– Telegraph Group