Alarm over "challenges"

A medical practitioner has warned children as young as eight in Rockingham and Kwinana carrying out dangerous ‘‘challenges’’ could face life-long scarring and serious injury.

A concerned individual told the Sound Telegraph there was a craze of children in the area, mostly aged 12 to 13, burning their skin, with ice and salt, and attempting to swallow cinnamon.

‘I’ve noticed that they’re posting videos showing kids how big their burn was, but the next day, when their skin is peeling, they’re not as excited about it as it’s painful,’’ she said.

‘‘I wasn’t actually sure what it was initially, but the videos and pictures are definitely all over Facebook.

‘‘It seems to be the bigger the burn the better it is, although I have noticed that some of them regret it the next day.

‘‘Most of the kids I’ve spoken to think its funny and harmless, not realising how dangerous it actually is.’’

Australian Medical Association WA vicepresident Richard Choong said both activities were ‘‘irrational’’.

‘‘These challenges are not a healthy way of challenging each other and can cause quite significant risks to health,’’ he said.

‘‘The issue here that you have to remember is that by creating a burn you could be left with a scar for life.

‘‘That’s something to remind them of their irrational behaviour, forever they will look at this event, and I’m sure they’ll regret it every day they see it.’’

Dr Choong said the severity of the burn was dependant on exposure.

‘‘It’s designed to drop the temperature of the skin, so the burn will depend uponhowlong the mixture remains on your skin,’’ he said.

‘‘If it becomes a full thickness burn they will get all the side effects, which include scarring, and there might be sensory loss in the area.’’

The Port Kennedy doctor said swallowing cinnamon could also have serious consequences.

‘‘Cinnamon can affect your tastebuds, (cause) eye irritation and burning, and there are huge associated health risks,’’ he said.