Doctor Issues Warning After Claiming Man Nearly Died From Popping Spot In 'Triangle Of Death'

A man allegedly suffered near-fatal consequences after he popped a spot between his lips and nose - otherwise known as the 'Triangle of Death'.

This area of the face, which stretches from the tip of a person's nose to either side of the lips, is particularly dangerous as doctors warn blood can flow back into the skull and cause infections inside the cranial cavity, where the brain is located.

The patient, 47-year-old Mr Tang, had been suffering from a headache for two weeks after popping the spot. He was eventually taken to the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province due to severe brain lesions and swelling.

He was conscious at the time of his admission but his reactions had slowed and his body temperature had risen to 39.3 degrees celsius.

AsiaWire

After being examined, it was revealed that Mr Tang was suffering from an intracranial infection, multiple brain abscesses and a puss build up inside his brain.

The area had become so badly infected, the condition was deemed critical and life-threatening.

Mr Tang said: "There was a pimple on my face. I squeezed it easily. I had been squeezing it before because of itching and pain but this time was different."

The doctor looking after the case warned others against popping spots that appear in this area of the face.

Zhou Gaoya, chief physician of the Intensive Care Unit of Neurology Department of Hunan Second People's Hospital, said: "The triangle from both sides of the mouth to the root of the nose is called the dangerous triangle of the face."

AsiaWire

"The blood circulation in the face is very rich, and the crisscrossing blood vessels shuttle through the facial muscles. When the muscles contract, blood can flow back into the skull.

"Therefore, if an infection occurs on the face, especially when a boil develops from both sides of the mouth corner to the root of the nose, you must not squeeze it with your hands. The bacteria in the boil can retrogradely spread to the cavernous sinus in the cranial cavity and can cause a brain abscess."

A similar case took place in January, when Mr Chen, from eastern China's Jiangsu Province, was reportedly left fighting for his life in the ICU after popping a spot under his lips.

Dr Zhu, who treated Mr Chen, said that he had a "mouth infection which initially triggered double pneumonia and collapsed lungs", adding that his "condition was critical."

Mr Chen's infections developed after he popped the spot, which was also located in the 'Triangle of Death'.

The doctor warned that picking at skin inside this danger zone can have serious implications for a person's overall health.

Topics: News, Hospital, Medical, world

Bradley Lengden