Candy-sniffing craze causes maggot infestation in children's noses
A new candy-sniffing craze can cause maggot infestations in children's noses.
Parents have been warned that the new craze - in which youngsters inhale crushed sweets through their nose - can have a serious impact on their health.
It is believed that flies - attracted to the rotting sugar - are laying eggs inside children's nasal passages.
Health officials say lung infections, septicaemia and internal bleeding could also be caused by snorting candy with tell tale symptoms of use including a gooey discharge and mucus beneath the eyelids.
At this point even sneezing could cause the child to fall seriously ill.
According to the New York Daily News newspaper, a Rhode Island School has already issued a health warning to parents via email to find out if their children can feel a tickling sensation or smell a foul stench, encouraging them take immediate action.
Although sniffing the candy has no addictive or hallucinogenic qualities, hundreds of videos of youngsters doing so have appeared online. The clips - some attracting over 1,000 views - include the children experiencing severe pain and choking.
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