11-year-old Chinese boy rushed to hospital after doing homework for 14 hours straight

An 11-year-old boy in China was rushed to the hospital after completing 14 hours of homework without breaks, leaving him with “chicken claw hands” and a dangerous breathing condition.

Identified only as Liangliang, the boy spent 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. studying under pressure from his parents in August. By 11 p.m., he developed rapid breathing, numbness in his limbs, dizziness, and severe stress

According to the SCMP, the boy had even developed “claw-like” chicken hands and muscle stiffness.

His parents rushed him to the hospital, where doctors fitted him with a breathing mask and diagnosed him with a respiratory issue caused by hyperventilation. The condition, triggered by emotional stress and fast, deep breathing, can cause chest tightness, twitching fingers, and muscle stiffness. If untreated, it can become life-threatening.

Doctors said Liangliang gradually recovered once his breathing was regulated.

Too much homework?

Changsha Central Hospital reported over 30 teenagers admitted in August alone with symptoms similar to Liangliang’s, a tenfold spike compared to normal months.

According to a 2017 British Council study, many Chinese students continue intensive study during summer breaks, even after the school year officially ends in July.

The case adds fuel to the global debate over the role of homework in education. In North America, celebrities like Kim Kardashian have spoken against it, telling Twitch streamer Kai Cenat in a livestream that she doesn’t believe kids should have homework.

“Kids are in school eight hours a day,” she said. “When they come home, they also have to play sports, live their lives, spend time with their families. I think homework should be left at school.”

Meanwhile, some children have found creative ways to enjoy assignments. In 2024, a young Tekken fan’s homework essay about the fighting game went viral, winning praise from the FGC for its charm.