A woman in Zhangzhou, China visited the hospital recently after her sore throat worsened and started to cause breathing difficulties. Within 10 minutes of arriving at the hospital, she passed away, and she was only 26.
The night before the incident, the woman went for a hotpot dinner with her friends after work. She experienced a mild sore throat after the meal but did not think much of it, assuming the discomfort was due to the spicy hotpot meal.
For illustration purposes only
The pain, however, became more severe the next morning after she woke up. With her breathing getting more difficult, she rushed to the hospital but unfortunately, she collapsed 10 minutes after receiving treatment. The medical personnel tried to revive her but to no avail.
The back of her throat was inflamed
The doctor confirmed that the woman died due to acute epiglottitis – an inflammation in the organ at the back of the throat. Major symptoms include severe sore throat and difficulty breathing, according to Cleveland Clinic.
When the epiglottis is highly swollen, it can cause obvious airway obstruction and even suffocation, making it more dangerous and lethal. Many factors can cause the epiglottis to swell including burns from hot liquids, infections, and injuries to the throat.
The doctor, however, could not confirm if the hotpot meal played a role in the infection.
However, a similar case happened in another district in China back in May 2024. A young man in his 30s visited the doctor for a sore throat and said he had experienced a cold for a few days but the medication worsened his sore throat, according to a Chinese news outlet, Morning News.
The doctor found out that the man had acute epiglottitis and immediately arranged for treatment and hospitalization. During the treatment, his heart suddenly stopped and medical staff immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency tracheotomy on him.
Fortunately, the man survived.
If you feel unwell, it’s wise to visit the doctor immediately before your symptoms worsen.
