13-year-old boy dies after following TikTok challenge

Jacob Stevens, a boy from Ohio, USA, died after nearly a week on a ventilator in the hospital. Jacob Stevens had taken 12-14 over-the-counter antihistamine pills to induce hallucinations. The amount of pills Jacob took was 6 times the standard dose for his age.

Jacob's father, Justin Stevens, told ABC6 that while Jacob was doing the Benadryl challenge, a friend was filming the video. As soon as he finished filming, Jacob started having seizures.

Jacob Stevens was on a ventilator for six days in the hospital before he died.

Although very saddened by the death of their son, Jacob's family decided to speak up to warn other parents so they can avoid unfortunate mistakes, even life-threatening ones, when children foolishly participate in challenges on social networks.

Justin Stevens has also contacted local lawmakers to ask for an age limit on purchasing drugs like Benadryl.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been sounding the alarm about overdoses linked to the "Benadryl Challenge" on TikTok for years.

Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that temporarily relieves runny nose and sneezing caused by hay fever, upper respiratory allergies, or the common cold. According to the FDA, diphenhydramine is safe and effective when used at the dose prescribed by your doctor, but higher doses can cause serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death.

Johnson & Johnson, the company that makes Benadryl, warned on its website that this "is a dangerous trend and needs to stop immediately."

Both the company and the FDA advise adults to keep Benadryl and other medications out of the reach of children.

Jacob is not the first victim of the "Benadryl Challenge." In August 2020, a 15-year-old girl also died after taking the challenge after overdosing on Benadryl.

Dieu Anh (Source: ABC6)

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Source: https://vtc.vn/be-trai-13-tuoi-tu-vong-vi-lam-theo-thu-thach-tren-tiktok-ar766604.html