Shriners hospital warns that new TikTok challenge is causing kids to get severe burns

Health

Shriners Children’s Boston has seen about 10 burns attributed to the social media trend.

Boston health officials are expressing concern over a new TikTok trend that has reportedly caused several hospital visits as a result of severe burns.

The trend encourages viewers to make homemade Tanghulu, a Chinese candied fruit, by microwaving sugar to melting point before dipping fruit in it, says Dr. Colleen Ryan of Shriners Children’s Boston to Boston.com.

“Apparently some of the kids skipped a few steps and instead of making a glass container they used paper products,” Ryan said. “They pull it out of the microwave, and it’s stuck to the tray in the microwave, and it splatters all over them.”

Ryan, who has been a burn surgeon for over 30 years, said she has seen an increase in children coming in with severe burns as a result of hot sugar spills.

Ryan said she’s seen about 10 burns attributed to the social media trend in recent months in Boston alone, and says her colleagues from around the world are seeing a similar pattern.

“I asked some of my colleagues around the country if they had seen it in an email,” she said. “I got replies right away from all over the country, from Iowa, Virginia, North Carolina and California, and I even got one from Australia.”

Ryan says parents should supervise their children if they intend to participate in the trend and make sure they use appropriate pot holders and stay away from paper products. Burns should be treated with cold, running water, she said.

“We really wanted parents to know this was happening and be aware of it,” Ryan said. “A burn that we could prevent gives us the very best outcome for that child.”