Brazilian Women Hospitalised For Six Months After Smelling Pepper

A Brazilian woman named Thais Medeiros is still in the hospital, six months after experiencing severe brain swelling caused by sniffing an extremely spicy chili pepper.

Thais's mother, Adriana Medeiros, expressed her longing for her daughter's return, saying, "I miss her a lot and I want my daughter to come home, but I understand that she needs to stay there," as reported by the Brazilian news site G1.

What Happened?

The incident occurred in February when the 25-year-old woman was helping her boyfriend prepare dinner for his parents in Anápolis, central Brazil. The situation turned for the worse when Thais sniffed a pickled goat pepper, a highly spicy variety common in the region with a Scoville rating (a measure of pepper heat) ranging between 15,000 to 30,000, and accidentally rubbed it on her nose.

Thais soon began experiencing an itchy throat and was quickly rushed to a hospital in Anápolis. She was later transferred to a medical facility in her hometown of Goiânia, where tests revealed that she had suffered brain swelling, known as oedema, believed to be triggered by an allergic reaction to the pepper. The condition was so severe that Thais spent several days in a coma after the pepper incident.

Complicating matters, Thais had pre-existing health conditions, including bronchitis and asthma.

While Thais was initially discharged from the hospital on July 31, she had to return four days later due to a high fever and reddish urine. Her expected return home on August 10 was further delayed when she experienced a bronchospasm, a constriction of the airways in the lungs.

As of now, there is no set release date for Thais, who has been left unable to speak or walk as a result of the ordeal. Doctors are concerned that the neurological issues stemming from oxygen deprivation may prevent her from resuming her usual activities.

Mother's Ordeal

Thais's mother, Adriana Medeiros, expressed her longing for her daughter's return, saying, "I miss her a lot and I want my daughter to come home, but I understand that she needs to stay there," as reported by the Brazilian news site G1.

The distraught mother, wishes for her daughter to return home, reflecting on their shared moments and the pain of her absence. "The other daughters ask why she doesn't come home, and I think about her all the time," Adriana said.

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