TikTok challenge: Teen girl declared brain dead after taking part in deadly trend

WARNING: Distressing content.A US father has issued an urgent warning about a dangerous viral trend after his teenage daughter was left with no brain activity following an alleged attempt to take part.

Leah Presson, 15, has been described by her family as the “most giving person in the world with a contagious laugh”, but is now fighting for life after reportedly participating in the so-called “Benadryl challenge”.

The social media trend encourages users to consume large quantities of the allergy medication in an attempt to trigger hallucinations. which can quickly become deadly.

Leah’s father, Richard Presson, said he wants other families to understand the risks and speak to their children about the dangers.

“I just want everybody to be aware of where they can educate their kids. But these challenges are just silly, and they need to be educated so it doesn’t happen again,” Mr Presson told local media outlet, KFOR.

The challenge first emerged in 2020 but has seen renewed popularity in recent weeks, sparking concern among medical professionals and parents alike.

After taking the medication, Leah suffered seizures and was rushed to an emergency department in Enid, Oklahoma. Initially, her father believed her condition may have been linked to her asthma, but doctors later indicated her symptoms were consistent with the viral challenge, something she had reportedly attempted before.

Despite devastating test results, Mr Presson said he remains hopeful.

“To set everybody straight on what’s really going on is that Leah was pronounced brain dead. We’re still waiting on a miracle even though some have given up, Amber and I are still here waiting on this miracle to happen,” he wrote on Facebook.

“They were going to pull the plug after pronouncing her brain dead. We have chose to donate her organs because she is the kind of girl that would have given anything to anybody.”

In a heartbreaking update, the family has also made the decision to donate Leah’s organs.

“We have chosen to donate her organs because she is the kind of girl that would have given anything to anybody. She loved Grey’s Anatomy and is able to possibly save up to 90 lives with her little body.”

Leah’s father shared an emotional video on Facebook on Monday, saying “thank you... for coming and praying for my daughter and singing for her.We are so grateful, I know. She heard you, and so did half the others in the hospital Leah loved it i know”.

Medical experts in the United States have reported a rise in similar cases this year, warning of the serious risks associated with misusing antihistamines.

“We have seen an uptick in cases of kids who have been overdosing on Benadryl,” Dr. Shahfar Khan of Rady’s told the New York Post.

“The dose required to induce hallucinations is also the same dose that can cause cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest.”

Doctors warn that overdosing can also trigger seizures, severe heart rhythm disturbances and breathing failure, with some patients requiring intensive treatment, including medications or defibrillation in critical cases.

In Australia, Benadryl products differ from those sold in the US. While Benadryl Original is available over the counter as a cough and cold syrup containing diphenhydramine, other variants use different active ingredients.

Medicines containing diphenhydramine are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and are approved for short-term use when taken as directed.

“These medicines can cause children serious harm, or even death, and there is little if any evidence that they are effective in treating cough, cold and flu symptoms,” the TGA says.

“First-generation oral sedating antihistamines should not be used for the treatment of cough, cold and flu symptoms in children under 6 years.”