A resident of Tel Aviv in his 30s was rushed to the Poriya Medical Center near Tiberias with neurological symptoms such as seizures, memory loss, and ringing in the ears. Upon examination, doctors discovered that these symptoms were caused by the deliberate inhalation of laughing gas used to whip cream in balloons. If it weren’t for the timely intervention of the medical team, the patient could have faced irreversible damage or even death.
Doctors at Poriya Hospital contacted the patient’s relatives, who brought a cylinder of gas used in siphons for whipping cream to the hospital. This cylinder contained 2.2 liters of gas, as opposed to the household canisters that are typically abused by Israeli teenagers and young people. By identifying the exact cause of the poisoning, doctors were able to administer the appropriate treatment, including mechanical ventilation, which ultimately saved the patient’s life. However, further tests are needed to determine whether there is permanent neurological damage from this incident.
Dr. Moshe Maruf of Poriya Hospital noted that there has been a growing number of cases involving abuse of gas from household siphons, particularly among young people and teenagers. Many individuals do not realize the harmful effects of prolonged inhalation of this gas, which can lead to serious damage to nervous and immune systems, causing brain damage, seizures and chronic psychotic states. It is crucial to raise awareness about these dangers so that similar incidents do not occur in future.
It is important for parents and caregivers to educate themselves on the potential risks associated with using household items such as siphons for whipped cream or other purposes as they may contain harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health problems if ingested or inhaled improperly. The use of these substances should be discouraged and appropriate safety measures should be taken when handling them.
In conclusion, a timely medical intervention was crucial in saving this patient’s life after he suffered from neurological symptoms caused by deliberate inhalation of laughing gas from balloons used for whipped cream parties. The doctors at Poriya Hospital were able to identify and treat this issue promptly due to accessibility of information about siphon abuse among young people but more needs to be done on raising awareness about its dangers
