#Gravitas | A 12-year-old girl from Bengaluru developed a hole in her stomach after eating a "Smoky Paan". How did this happen? What are the harmful effects caused by liquid nitrogen in food?

Gravitas: Bengaluru girl develops a hole in her stomach

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A 12-year-old girl from India's southern Bengaluru city had to undergo gastrointestinal surgery after consuming a 'smoky paan' containing liquid nitrogen, reported the Times of India (TOI). She initially experienced severe stomach pain, which led to the discovery of a hole in her stomach. She had tried the 'smoky paan,' intrigued by seeing others exhale smoke after eating it.

This street food is widely available at various stalls across Indian cities, and is very popular among content creators.

Immediately after eating it, the girl felt unwell.

Reflecting on her experience, she told TOI, "I wanted to join others in trying the smoky paan, but soon after eating it, I felt discomfort that escalated into severe stomach pain. While others seemed unaffected, I felt sick."

Doctors diagnosed her with perforation peritonitis, a condition where a hole in the stomach requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent further complications.

Dr Vijay HS, the lead surgeon at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, explained, "Intra-op OGD scopy is a procedure where a flexible tube with a camera and light is used during surgery to examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum—the first part of the small intestine," according to The Times of India.

"We must address such isolated incidents promptly to prevent them from recurring." Dr Vijay added.

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The girl was discharged after spending six days in the hospital.

The hospital said, "Liquid nitrogen, with a liquid-to-gas expansion ratio of 1: 694 at 20 degrees Celsius, poses significant health risks".

"The rapid vaporisation of liquid nitrogen in an enclosed space generates immense force. This volatile chemical can damage the skin and present severe health hazards to chefs and other food handlers. Inhaling the vapours can lead to breathing difficulties, and there have been reports of tissue damage due to hazardoud nature of liquid nitrogen," the hospital said in a statement.&nbsp;

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<h2>Rising concerns over liquid nitrogen in street food</h2>

This incident adds to a growing list of cases where people have suffered adverse effects from consuming food and beverages containing liquid nitrogen. 
 
Often used in restaurants to create a smoky effect in dishes like sizzlers, liquid nitrogen requires careful handling by both consumers and food providers.

(With inputs from agencies)
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A 12-year-old girl from India's southern Bengaluru city had to undergo gastrointestinal surgery after consuming a 'smoky paan' containing liquid nitrogen, reported the Times of India (TOI).

A 12-year-old girl from India's southern Bengaluru city had to undergo gastrointestinal surgery after consuming a 'smoky paan' containing liquid nitrogen, reported the Times of India (TOI). She initially experienced severe stomach pain, which led to the discovery of a hole in her stomach. She had tried the 'smoky paan,' intrigued by seeing others exhale smoke after eating it. This street food is widely available at various stalls across Indian cities, and is very popular among content creators. Immediately after eating it, the girl felt unwell. Reflecting on her experience, she told TOI, "I wanted to join others in trying the smoky paan, but soon after eating it, I felt discomfort that escalated into severe stomach pain. While others seemed unaffected, I felt sick." Doctors diagnosed her with perforation peritonitis, a condition where a hole in the stomach requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent further complications. Dr Vijay HS, the lead surgeon at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, explained, "Intra-op OGD scopy is a procedure where a flexible tube with a camera and light is used during surgery to examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum—the first part of the small intestine," according to The Times of India. "We must address such isolated incidents promptly to prevent them from recurring." Dr Vijay added. Also read | The Great Khali lands in trouble after lifting world's shortest woman with his hands The girl was discharged after spending six days in the hospital. The hospital said, "Liquid nitrogen, with a liquid-to-gas expansion ratio of 1: 694 at 20 degrees Celsius, poses significant health risks". "The rapid vaporisation of liquid nitrogen in an enclosed space generates immense force. This volatile chemical can damage the skin and present severe health hazards to chefs and other food handlers. Inhaling the vapours can lead to breathing difficulties, and there have been reports of tissue damage due to hazardoud nature of liquid nitrogen," the hospital said in a statement. Also watch | India General Election 2024: Jammu & Kashmir's Baramulla records all-time high voter turnout Rising concerns over liquid nitrogen in street food This incident adds to a growing list of cases where people have suffered adverse effects from consuming food and beverages containing liquid nitrogen. Often used in restaurants to create a smoky effect in dishes like sizzlers, liquid nitrogen requires careful handling by both consumers and food providers. (With inputs from agencies)

12-year-old undergoes emergency surgery after 'smoky paan' leaves hole in her stomach

Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm, a prominent Swedish medical university home to the Nobel Assembly, faced a significant setback as research samples gathered over decades were destroyed due to a freezer malfunction during the Christmas holidays.

Stored in cryogenic tanks cooled with liquid nitrogen at -190°C, the samples valued at millions of US dollars were crucial for various research initiatives.

Between December 22 and 23, a malfunction occurred in the supply of liquid nitrogen to 16 cryogenic tanks, as reported by The Guardian newspaper.

Despite the tanks being designed to function&nbsp;up to four days without additional liquid nitrogen, they were left without it for five days, resulting in the destruction of samples from multiple institutions.

The timing, just a day before Christmas Eve, added to the gravity of the situation.

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<h2>Estimated loss and impact on Leukemia research</h2>

While media outlets suggested an estimated value of 500 million kronor ($46&nbsp;million) for the lost samples, Matti Sällberg, the dean of KI’s southern campus, told the Guardian&nbsp;that no official estimate had been made but acknowledged it was easily in the millions.

The most severely affected area is leukemia research, with samples spanning up to 30 years from patients now irretrievably lost.

The university has launched an internal investigation to ascertain the cause of the freezer malfunction.

Despite no immediate signs of sabotage, the incident has been reported to the police, covering all bases in understanding the circumstances.

Also watch |&nbsp;Sweden records lowest temperature in 25 years, -43.5 degrees celsius recorded

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Sällberg clarified that, as of now, there is no indication of external interference, but the police report was filed for comprehensive exploration.

The destroyed samples were exclusively dedicated to research and would not affect the ongoing care of patients.

However, their intended use in future studies has been severely compromised.

(With inputs from agencies)

Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm, a prominent Swedish medical university home to the Nobel Assembly, faced a significant setback as research samples gathered over decades were destroyed due to a freezer malfunction during the Christmas holidays.

Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm, a prominent Swedish medical university home to the Nobel Assembly, faced a significant setback as research samples gathered over decades were destroyed due to a freezer malfunction during the Christmas holidays. Stored in cryogenic tanks cooled with liquid nitrogen at -190°C, the samples valued at millions of US dollars were crucial for various research initiatives. Between December 22 and 23, a malfunction occurred in the supply of liquid nitrogen to 16 cryogenic tanks, as reported by The Guardian newspaper. Despite the tanks being designed to function up to four days without additional liquid nitrogen, they were left without it for five days, resulting in the destruction of samples from multiple institutions. The timing, just a day before Christmas Eve, added to the gravity of the situation. Also read | Turkey ratifies Sweden's much-delayed NATO bid, ball now in Hungary's court Estimated loss and impact on Leukemia research While media outlets suggested an estimated value of 500 million kronor ($46 million) for the lost samples, Matti Sällberg, the dean of KI’s southern campus, told the Guardian that no official estimate had been made but acknowledged it was easily in the millions. The most severely affected area is leukemia research, with samples spanning up to 30 years from patients now irretrievably lost. The university has launched an internal investigation to ascertain the cause of the freezer malfunction. Despite no immediate signs of sabotage, the incident has been reported to the police, covering all bases in understanding the circumstances. Also watch | Sweden records lowest temperature in 25 years, -43.5 degrees celsius recorded Sällberg clarified that, as of now, there is no indication of external interference, but the police report was filed for comprehensive exploration. The destroyed samples were exclusively dedicated to research and would not affect the ongoing care of patients. However, their intended use in future studies has been severely compromised. (With inputs from agencies)

Decades of  leukemia research samples destroyed at Swedish university due to freezer malfunction

Dragon's breath, a viral TikTok trend of eating a street snack infused with liquid nitrogen, has put the lives of 20 Indonesian children at risk.

Chiki ngebul, a rainbow assortment of candies infused with liquid nitrogen, caused severe stomach burns and food poisoning to several children who tried the viral trend. After the incident, the government warned about the hazards of liquid nitrogen consumption in instantly ready foods, The Guardian reported.&nbsp;

Liquid nitrogen has been trending on TikTok due to the smoky effects it adds to the food item. However, if a person consumes the dish before the liquid nitrogen evaporates, it poses a risk of intestinal burns and perforations.&nbsp;

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In the worst cases, liquid nitrogen consumption can lead to death, according to Dr Dicky Budiman, an Indonesian doctor and researcher of global health security at Griffith University.&nbsp;

Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, Director General of the Indonesian ministry of health, informed that skin burns and severe breathing problems are other probable risks. The health ministry has reported no deaths but added that the number of affected children was around 25. However, Dr Budiman believes that the number might be higher.&nbsp;

Later, the ministry requested the local health agencies to monitor the diners and cafeterias that use liquid nitrogen. They also asked the agencies to inform the customers how they can enjoy it 'safely.' But they have urged mobile hawker food places to avoid the chemical compound.&nbsp;

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In light of the incident, the ministry has requested the schools to educate the children about the dangers of consuming liquid nitrogen.&nbsp;

Furthermore, Dr Budiman added that the snack had been around forever but recently became more popular and thus accessible.&nbsp;

For some teenagers, the experience [of] dangerous things [generates] more enthusiasm. They [are] eager to try it. That's a dangerous thing," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Dragon's breath, a viral TikTok trend of eating a street snack infused with liquid nitrogen, has put the lives of 20 Indonesian children at risk. Chiki ngebul, a rainbow assortment of candies infused with liquid nitrogen, caused severe stomach burns and food poisoning to several children who tried the viral trend.

Dragon's breath, a viral TikTok trend of eating a street snack infused with liquid nitrogen, has put the lives of 20 Indonesian children at risk. Chiki ngebul, a rainbow assortment of candies infused with liquid nitrogen, caused severe stomach burns and food poisoning to several children who tried the viral trend. After the incident, the government warned about the hazards of liquid nitrogen consumption in instantly ready foods, The Guardian reported. Liquid nitrogen has been trending on TikTok due to the smoky effects it adds to the food item. However, if a person consumes the dish before the liquid nitrogen evaporates, it poses a risk of intestinal burns and perforations. Also Read | Research reveals, Covid increases chance of severe illness and death in pregnant women In the worst cases, liquid nitrogen consumption can lead to death, according to Dr Dicky Budiman, an Indonesian doctor and researcher of global health security at Griffith University. Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, Director General of the Indonesian ministry of health, informed that skin burns and severe breathing problems are other probable risks. The health ministry has reported no deaths but added that the number of affected children was around 25. However, Dr Budiman believes that the number might be higher. Later, the ministry requested the local health agencies to monitor the diners and cafeterias that use liquid nitrogen. They also asked the agencies to inform the customers how they can enjoy it 'safely.' But they have urged mobile hawker food places to avoid the chemical compound. Watch | U.S. President Joe Biden pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr In light of the incident, the ministry has requested the schools to educate the children about the dangers of consuming liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, Dr Budiman added that the snack had been around forever but recently became more popular and thus accessible. For some teenagers, the experience [of] dangerous things [generates] more enthusiasm. They [are] eager to try it. That's a dangerous thing," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

TikTok trend gone wrong: 20 Indonesian kids face health issues after consuming liquid nitrogen snack

A 30-year-old man from Delhi had to be rushed to a hospital and had &ldquo;nearly half his stomach&rdquo; removed after he gulped down a drink laced with liquid nitrogen, media reports said. 
&nbsp; 
The businessman was partying at a pub in Gurgaon with his friends where they ordered the new cocktail. Not knowing that the drink was supposed to be consumed only after the smoke evaporated, the man quickly downed in. 
&nbsp; 
Soon after, he started feeling uncomfortable. He, however, had another drink after that and within seconds his stomach started swelling. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;When I gulped down the drink, I started feeling very uncomfortable, like how you feel when there is an acid reflux. The bartender passed me another drink and I had it, not thinking too much about the discomfort. However, within seconds, my stomach started swelling and I was in unbearable pain. Breathing was also difficult,&rdquo; the man, requesting anonymity, told the Hindustan Times. 
&nbsp; 
Doctors at the Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon said the man&rsquo;s abdomen &ldquo;looked like an open book&rdquo;. 
&nbsp; 
Dr Amit Deepta Goswami, who attended to the man, said when he arrived at the hospital he was restless and drowsy, and that his abdomen was abnormally swollen. 
&nbsp; 
Doctors also said that his lactic acid level was extremely high due to deprivation of oxygen in the body. He had to be immediately put on a ventilator, doctors said. 
&nbsp; 
A CT scan showed that there was free air in the abdominal cavity due to perforation of either stomach or intestines. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Perforated abdomen is fairly common. But it is usually 0.5 mm to 1 mm. But in this case, the abdomen looked like an open book,&quot; Dr Goswami told the Times Of India. 
&nbsp; 
After his surgery, the man had to be kept on a ventilator for three more days and was later discharged from the hospital. 
&nbsp; 
The incident reportedly took place on April 13. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Now, it is two months since the surgery and he is doing absolutely fine,&quot; Dr Goswami said. 
&nbsp; 
Liquid nitrogen is used at bars because it can quickly chill glasses and freeze ingredients as it evaporates. 
&nbsp; 
But doctors warn that consuming liquid nitrogen &ldquo;can cause havoc in a person&rsquo;s system&rdquo;. 
&nbsp;

The 30-year-old from Delhi had to be rushed to a hospital after his stomach started swelling

A 30-year-old man from Delhi had to be rushed to a hospital and had “nearly half his stomach” removed after he gulped down a drink laced with liquid nitrogen, media reports said. The businessman was partying at a pub in Gurgaon with his friends where they ordered the new cocktail. Not knowing that the drink was supposed to be consumed only after the smoke evaporated, the man quickly downed in. Soon after, he started feeling uncomfortable. He, however, had another drink after that and within seconds his stomach started swelling. “When I gulped down the drink, I started feeling very uncomfortable, like how you feel when there is an acid reflux. The bartender passed me another drink and I had it, not thinking too much about the discomfort. However, within seconds, my stomach started swelling and I was in unbearable pain. Breathing was also difficult,” the man, requesting anonymity, told the Hindustan Times. Doctors at the Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon said the man’s abdomen “looked like an open book”. Dr Amit Deepta Goswami, who attended to the man, said when he arrived at the hospital he was restless and drowsy, and that his abdomen was abnormally swollen. Doctors also said that his lactic acid level was extremely high due to deprivation of oxygen in the body. He had to be immediately put on a ventilator, doctors said. A CT scan showed that there was free air in the abdominal cavity due to perforation of either stomach or intestines. "Perforated abdomen is fairly common. But it is usually 0.5 mm to 1 mm. But in this case, the abdomen looked like an open book," Dr Goswami told the Times Of India. After his surgery, the man had to be kept on a ventilator for three more days and was later discharged from the hospital. The incident reportedly took place on April 13. "Now, it is two months since the surgery and he is doing absolutely fine," Dr Goswami said. Liquid nitrogen is used at bars because it can quickly chill glasses and freeze ingredients as it evaporates. But doctors warn that consuming liquid nitrogen “can cause havoc in a person’s system”.

Delhiite consumes liquid nitrogen cocktail, docs remove 'half his stomach'

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