Candy shaped like life-size lightbulbs have proved a big seller in China during the holiday season after going viral online, but a health expert has warned the treat could be a choking hazard¹.

假日期间，一款形状大小和真实灯泡一样的糖果在网上走红后，又在全国范围内热销。但一位健康专家警告称，这种糖果或存在令人窒息的风险。

Made from caramel, the solid candies - about 10 cm long and 6 cm at the widest point - have been popular with shoppers looking for unique gifts on Taobao, the online marketplace.

这款固体糖果由焦糖制成，长约10厘米，最宽处6厘米，很受在网上商城淘宝上寻找独特礼品的买家的喜爱。

The novelty² became popular thanks to Emergency Medicine Specialist, a soap opera that began to air about a month ago.

这一新奇事物是通过《急诊科医生》而流行开来的，《急诊科医生》是一部一个月前播出的肥皂剧。

However, Bi Qingling, an attending doctor with the ear, nose and throat department at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, warned that the treat could cause more health risks than a real light bulb.

然而，北京中日友好医院耳鼻喉科主治医师毕青玲警告称，这款糖果可能会造成比真实灯泡更大的健康风险。

"If the hard sugar candy stays in the mouth for more than one to two hours, the lower jaw³ joint could be dislocated," she said. "Once the tongue swells⁴ due to the long-term pressure, it can cause choking, which can be fatal."

她说：“如果硬质糖果在嘴里停留时长超过一到两个小时，下颚关节就可能会脱位。一旦舌头因长时间压力而肿胀，就可能造成窒息，这会是致命的。”

She suggested consumers avoid putting the entire candy in their mouth. "Don't even risk it out of curiosity," Bi added.

她建议消费者避免将整颗灯泡糖放进嘴里。毕青玲补充说道：“不要出于好奇心而去冒险。”