Dr. Nguyen Van Ngan from Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi recently treated a 20-year-old girl who choked on tapioca pearls after drinking milk tea. The patient presented with a severe cough, difficulty breathing, blue lips, and an endoscopy revealed pearl beads in the right bronchus.

Pearls and jelly have a soft, chewy, and highly sticky texture that can present a choking hazard when ingested. When lost in the airway, they can obscure and obstruct breathing, causing difficulty breathing. Toppings in drinks are often granular, made of powder, and have a sticky texture like tapioca pearls, jelly, or coconut jelly, which are commonly eaten through large straws. Dr. Ngan advises against sucking too hard as this can push the topping into the airway leading to coughing and difficulty in expelling the foreign object due to its sticky texture.

Choking on foreign objects is more common in young children who may not have the knowledge or reflexes to prevent it. To reduce the risk of choking children should eat toppings with a spoon rather than a large straw, chew slowly and not play while eating. Children should be supervised by adults during meals and their food should be cut into smaller portions.

If choking on a foreign object occurs it is crucial to administer first aid promptly to expel the object from the airway and prevent respiratory failure or death. The Heimlich maneuver can be used for adults and children over two years old while younger children may require back patting and chest compressions to dislodge the object.

It’s important for individuals to understand that consuming drinks with various toppings can increase their risk of choking on foreign objects in their airways. Eating with caution can help prevent such incidents from occurring.

Drinks served with various toppings increase the risk of choking on foreign objects in