Photo: Trevor Williams (Getty)
I know people who love pinching their nose and keeping their mouth closed when they sneeze, which is something that looks painful. And if you’re one of those people you’re going to stop doing it after reading this.
Ear, nose and throat specialists at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust wrote in the journal of BMJ Case Reports about a 34-year-old man who actually spent a week in the hospital after trying to hold in a sneeze. And why is that? Because he suffered a spontaneous perforation of the pharynx, and he was left barely being able to speak or swallow.
They said the ‘unusual condition’ is most often caused by trauma or sometimes by vomiting, retching or heavy coughing, so the patient’s symptoms initially surprised emergency care doctors. He told them he had developed a popping sensation in his neck which immediately swelled up after he tried to contain a forceful sneeze by pinching his nose and keeping his mouth clamped shut at the same time. He then found it extremely painful to swallow and could barely speak.
When doctors examined him they heard popping and crackling sounds, which extended from his neck all the way down to his ribcage, a sign that air bubbles had found their way into the deep tissue and muscles of the chest – later confirmed by a scan. Because of the risk of serious complications he was admitted to hospital where he was fed by a tube and given intravenous antibiotics until the swelling and pain had subsided.
After a week, the man was sent home and told not to hold in his sneeze again. In conclusion, don’t try to hold in your sneeze and just make sure you let it all out. Cover your mouth of course. Well, don’t cover it if your intention is to aim it at your enemy.
