Teenage choking games can be fatal

What the research found

A 2015 systematic review of 36 studies found self-asphyxial behaviour ('choking game') in young people up to age 20, in 10 countries. The median lifetime prevalence of taking part was 7.4% in the places studied. A 2017 systematic review also linked these games to accidents and death.

Case reports show the harm. In a Saudi Arabian series from 2010 to 2012, five boys aged 10 to 13 were treated after self-strangulation. Two died and one had brain injury from lack of oxygen. A separate report described fatal cases in an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old.

A US government report found 82 probable choking-game deaths among people aged 6 to 19 between 1995 and 2007. Most were male, and the average age was 13.3 years. These counts came from news reports, because no standard health dataset records these deaths.

What it doesn’t mean

• Most children who try the game will not die, and the numbers are uncertain. Deaths are often recorded as suicides or accidents, and the US count relied on news reports, so the true figure is unknown.
• Most of the research comes from France, North America and a few other countries. It is mainly surveys and case reports, so it shows the danger but cannot give an exact risk for Australian teens.
• If you are worried your child is taking part, talk to them calmly and see a GP or child health nurse. If someone is unconscious or struggling to breathe, call an ambulance immediately.