Ice Cream is truly a wonder-drug. And it comes in so many flavors, making it really easy to administer.
“Mommy’s Kisses” is also a highly effective drug that I often administer to my younger patients. However, the effectiveness seems pretty low once the patient is over five years of age.
It’s sad, really. These kids get so many doses of “Mommy’s Kisses” that, in just five short years, they have to move on to the harder drug to get the same results.
The side effects of Ice Cream range from moderate to severe and include cavities, addiction and even obesity.
Warning: The high sugar content of Ice Cream makes it really tempting for children to try to self-medicate. Often times they do this rapidly so as to avoid being caught by a parent or guardian. This is known as RSM, or Rapid Self-Medication. It is characterized most commonly by very sudden headache, also known as “Ice Cream Headache” or “Brain Freeze.”
If you suspect RSM and the patient seems evasive when questioned about drug consumption, be sure to check for evidence, such as an Ice Cream lid ajar, or a spoon that is out of place. Children today are really smart. Many have learned tricks from older drug users to avoid getting caught – like briefly microwaving the Ice Cream and stirring it so that the surface of the drug appears smooth and untouched. This is why it is important to not just go by the appearance of the drug when collecting evidence.
RSM Symptom Treatment (as noted in Wikipedia):
It has been reported that the pain can be relieved by moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth,[1] which will cause greater warmth in the region; it is also believed that the pain can be relieved by slowly sipping room temperature water. Laying the head to the side may also provide relief. Creating a mask with one’s hands and placing over the mouth and nose and breathing rapidly is also said to be useful as the temperature in the mouth rises quickly. A report was submitted to the British Medical Journal on brain freeze; it focused on the effect of speed of consumption of ice cream on causing brain freeze. Commonly referred to as “ice cream headaches,” it has been studied as an example of referred pain,[2] an unpleasant sensation localised to an area separate from the site of the painful stimulation.
Note: One company, Breyers, has recognized the addictive properties of Ice Cream and the propensity for RSM in young children. They have taken measures to seal the top of their unopened containers with a plastic band to prevent unsupervised tampering. Maybe in the near future, Ice Cream manufacturers will utilize child-proof caps on their containers. Until then, parents must remain vigilant to prevent RSM.