Condom challenge

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The condom challenges are two viral Internet challenges. The first is a challenge involving snorting a latex condom through one's nasal cavity and into the back of the throat; the second is a challenge where a water-filled condom is dropped onto a person's head, typically enveloping the head of the person taking part. Both variations carry a risk of choking and suffocating.

Contents

Nasal cavity

The earlier challenge consists of inserting a latex condom into a nostril and snorting it into the nasal cavity and back through the throat to be pulled out of the mouth. The challenge originated in May 2006, when a video was uploaded onto Break.com of a young man successfully completing the challenge.[ citation needed ] The term "condom challenge" was coined in May 2012 following the widespread popularity of the cinnamon challenge, but the idea dates to the early 1990s when it was a staple of Matt "The Tube" Crowley's performances at the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, [1] and videos of challenge attempts date to at least 2007. [2] The challenge went viral in 2013, [3] when WorldStarHipHop posted a video of two young women attempting the challenge, and several people subsequently uploaded videos onto the Internet of themselves attempting the challenge.

The stunt poses potential choking hazards. [4]

Water drop

A man participating in the condom challenge Condom challenge.jpg
A man participating in the condom challenge

The later challenge, popularised in November 2015, involves filling a condom with water and filming it being dropped on one's head. This often results in the condom enveloping and adhering to the participant's face, giving the impression that they have somehow became immersed in the water held within the condom. [3] The Guardian newspaper noted the danger in putting an airtight seal over one's nose and mouth. [3]

Related Research Articles

In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair, or other such attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvula</span> Fleshy appendage that hangs from the back of the palate

The uvula, also known as the palatine uvula or staphyle, is a conic projection from the back edge of the middle of the soft palate, composed of connective tissue containing a number of racemose glands, and some muscular fibers. It also contains many serous glands, which produce thin saliva. It is only found in humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastric intubation</span> Feeding tube going into the stomach through the nose and throat

Nasogastric intubation is a medical process involving the insertion of a plastic tube through the nose, down the esophagus, and down into the stomach. Orogastric intubation is a similar process involving the insertion of a plastic tube through the mouth. Abraham Louis Levin invented the NG tube. Nasogastric tube is also known as Ryle's tube in Commonwealth countries, after John Alfred Ryle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasal cavity</span> Large, air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face

The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The nasal septum divides the cavity into two cavities, also known as fossae. Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two nostrils. The nasal cavity is the uppermost part of the respiratory system and provides the nasal passage for inhaled air from the nostrils to the nasopharynx and rest of the respiratory tract.

The Jim Rose Circus is a modern-day version of a circus sideshow. It was founded in Seattle in 1991 by Jim Rose and his wife BeBe Aschard Rose. The sideshow, then called the "Jim Rose Circus Sideshow", came to prominence to an American audience as a second stage show at the 1992 Lollapalooza festival. although they had toured the Northwest and Canada and had several US TV appearances before this time. Rolling Stone magazine called the show an "absolute must-see act" and USA Today termed Rose's troupe "Lollapalooza's word-of-mouth hit attraction".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhinorrhea</span> Filling of the nasal cavity with fluid mucus

Rhinorrhea, rhinorrhoea, or informally runny nose is the free discharge of a thin mucus fluid from the nose; it is a common condition. It is a common symptom of allergies or certain viral infections, such as the common cold or COVID-19. It can be a side effect of crying, exposure to cold temperatures, cocaine abuse, or drug withdrawal, such as from methadone or other opioids. Treatment for rhinorrhea may be aimed at reducing symptoms or treating underlying causes. Rhinorrhea usually resolves without intervention, but may require treatment by a doctor if symptoms last more than 10 days or if symptoms are the result of foreign bodies in the nose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mule (smuggling)</span> Person who smuggles contraband and illegal drugs to another border

A mule or courier is someone who personally smuggles contraband across a border for a smuggling organization. The organizers employ mules to reduce the risk of getting caught themselves. Methods of smuggling include hiding the goods in vehicles or carried items, attaching them to one's body, or using the body as a container.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head and neck anatomy</span>

This article describes the anatomy of the head and neck of the human body, including the brain, bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, glands, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, and throat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human blockhead</span> Carnival or sideshow performers

A human blockhead is a carnival or sideshow performer who hammers a nail or other implement into their nasal cavity via the nostril.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reverse sneezing</span> Clinical event in dogs and cats

Reverse sneezing, also known as inspiratory paroxysmal respiration, is a clinical event that occurs in dogs and cats. It is possibly caused by a muscle spasm at the back of the animal's mouth, more specifically where the muscle and throat meet. Other hypotheses state that it occurs when the animal's soft palate gets irritated. The irritation causes spasms in the soft palate muscle thus narrowing the trachea. Because the trachea is narrowed, the pet isn't able to inhale a full breath of air, resulting in forceful attempts to inhale through their nose. This causes the pet to experience reverse sneezing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nose</span> Organ that smells and facilitates breathing

A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes through the pharynx, shared with the digestive system, and then into the rest of the respiratory system. In humans, the nose is located centrally on the face and serves as an alternative respiratory passage especially during suckling for infants. The protruding nose that is completely separate from the mouth part is a characteristic found only in therian mammals. It has been theorized that this unique mammalian nose evolved from the anterior part of the upper jaw of the reptilian-like ancestors (synapsids).

Mouth infections, also known as oral infections, are a group of infections that occur around the oral cavity. They include dental infection, dental abscess, and Ludwig's angina. Mouth infections typically originate from dental caries at the root of molars and premolars that spread to adjacent structures. In otherwise healthy patients, removing the offending tooth to allow drainage will usually resolve the infection. In cases that spread to adjacent structures or in immunocompromised patients, surgical drainage and systemic antibiotics may be required in addition to tooth extraction. Since bacteria that normally reside in the oral cavity cause mouth infections, proper dental hygiene can prevent most cases of infection. As such, mouth infections are more common in populations with poor access to dental care or populations with health-related behaviors that damage one's teeth and oral mucosa. This is a common problem, representing nearly 36% of all encounters within the emergency department related to dental conditions.

Throat irritation can refer to a dry cough, a scratchy feeling at the back of the throat, a sensation of a lumpy feeling, something stuck at the back of the throat, or possibly a feeling of dust in the throat. The symptoms are unpleasant and usually temporary, but occasionally signifies a more serious health issue, such as laryngitis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypernasal speech</span> Medical condition

Hypernasal speech is a disorder that causes abnormal resonance in a human's voice due to increased airflow through the nose during speech. It is caused by an open nasal cavity resulting from an incomplete closure of the soft palate and/or velopharyngeal sphincter. In normal speech, nasality is referred to as nasalization and is a linguistic category that can apply to vowels or consonants in a specific language. The primary underlying physical variable determining the degree of nasality in normal speech is the opening and closing of a velopharyngeal passage way between the oral vocal tract and the nasal vocal tract. In the normal vocal tract anatomy, this opening is controlled by lowering and raising the velum or soft palate, to open or close, respectively, the velopharyngeal passageway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinnamon challenge</span> Viral internet food challenge

The cinnamon challenge was a viral internet food challenge. Participants filmed themselves eating a spoonful of ground cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking anything, with the video being uploaded to the Internet as evidence. The challenge is difficult and carries substantial health risks because the cinnamon coats and dries the mouth and throat, resulting in coughing, gagging, vomiting, and inhalation of cinnamon, which can in turn lead to throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and risk of pneumonia or a collapsed lung.

Viral phenomena or viral sensation are objects or patterns that are able to replicate themselves or convert other objects into copies of themselves when these objects are exposed to them. Analogous to the way in which viruses propagate, the term viral pertains to a video, image, or written content spreading to numerous online users within a short time period. This concept has become a common way to describe how thoughts, information, and trends move into and through a human population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Byers</span> American entertainer

Brad Byers is an American entertainer known for his extreme performances, including sword swallowing, lying on beds of nails and inserting various tools into his nasal cavity. For the latter he is also referred to as a "Human toolbox". He holds several World Records. His brother Rod assists him in some performances.

The hot pepper challenge is an Internet viral video fad, consisting of a food challenge that involves filming oneself while eating and swallowing a chili pepper that is high on the Scoville scale and known for its piquant (spicy-hot) qualities, in particular the cayenne pepper, Thai pepper, habanero, ghost pepper, and the Trinidad moruga scorpion pepper; the video is then uploaded to the Internet. Hot pepper challenges have been featured on television series, including Man v. Food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasopharyngeal swab</span>

A nasopharyngeal swab is a device used for collecting a sample of nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat. The sample is then analyzed for the presence of organisms or other clinical markers for disease. This diagnostic method is commonly used in suspected cases of whooping cough, diphtheria, influenza, and various types of diseases caused by the coronavirus family of viruses, including SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.

References

  1. Gooch, Jamie (29 October 1993). "It's disgusting but delightful: the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow". Daily Kent Stater. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  2. Alvarez, Alex (17 April 2013). "Condom Challenge Videos On YouTube a Bad Idea". ABC News . Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Hern, Alex (25 November 2015). "Condom challenge: teens invent a new way to potentially maim themselves online". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  4. Greenberg, Molly (18 April 2013). "Teen Condom Snorting Trend is Dangerous, Gross, Not Funny at All [VIDEO]". InTheCapital . Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.