Cases of Teens Inhaling Blowgun Darts on Rise

A research published in the journal Pediatrics warns about the dangers of homemade blowguns.

The researchers studied the three cases of teenagers inhaling darts from homemade blowguns.

In one case a 15-year-old Ohio boy was taken to the emergency room after he accidently inhaled a dart from a blowgun he made following instructions on the Internet. He suffered a three-hour long cough before he was admitted to ER. The X-rays showed  a foreign object blocking his airways. The doctors then found that it was a dart from a homemade gun.

After this incident,  doctors cited two similar cases of teenage boys being admitted due to inhalation of blowgun darts. However, they did not have any serious injuries.

But the researchers said that inhaling darts is a serious situation that leads to health risks, which may also result in deaths at times. "Certainly, prompt treatment can result in good outcomes; however, serious potential complications, including death, could occur especially given the hesitance our patients showed in divulging the truth of the inciting event," the study authors explained.

The researchers said that these teens inhale the dart deeply when they prepare to shoot an object. At this point, the vocal folds "maximally abduct," raising the risk for aspiration, the researchers warned.

The study authors warned that cases of the inhalation of darts from homemade guns are likely to increase because of the easy instructions available on the Internet. They said that there are 20 different websites that show how to make blowguns and darts at home.