A new report shows that 18 young people at Tallaght University Hospital have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder caused by inhaling nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”.
Laughing gas misuse among young people is becoming a growing public health concern, according to doctors.
A new report shows that 18 young people at Tallaght University Hospital have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder caused by inhaling nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”.
The patients were suffering from myeloneuropathy, a condition caused by damage to both the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
In one case, a 21-year-old man presented with a two-week history of worsening tingling, weakness and poor coordination affecting all four limbs.
He had difficulty with fine motor tasks, repeated falls on stairs, and became unable to work or drive safely.
He reported using nitrous oxide roughly every two weeks for seven months, inhaling between 10 and 40 balloons per session.
More recently, he had been using large industrial-style gas cylinders at house parties.
He stopped using the drug two weeks before attending hospital.
On examination, he was unable to walk without assistance and showed clear signs of neurological impairment, including loss of position sense, reduced sensation in all limbs, and weakened hand muscles.
He worked on scaffolding and had taken time off work as he was unable to lift heavy objects.
In another case, 20-year-old went to an emergency department after two weeks of worsening numbness in his arms and legs and increasing difficulty walking. The feeling first started in his fingers and toes before spreading further up his limbs.
He told doctors he had been using nitrous oxide heavily twice a week for about six weeks. He usually inhaled around 20 balloons each time and had recently switched from small canisters to large cylinders, sometimes breathing the gas directly through a facemask.
Examinations showed he was unsteady on his feet and had poor balance.
Doctors found reduced feeling in his hands and feet, some loss of movement in his fingers and ankles, and problems sensing where his limbs were.
Medics say the case shows how regular use of laughing gas can quickly cause serious nerve damage, particularly when large cylinders are used.
Locals have repeatedly contacted Kfm News to report sightings of the canisters dumped throughout the county.
Kildare County Council recently revealed how the council has no facilities to dispose of the canisters, and that they are not accepted by locally based waste collection operators due to health and safety reasons.
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