The Belgian poison control center is warning parents, schools and caregivers against the risk of paracetamol overdose, Gazet van Antwerpen reported on Monday. A trend on the social network TikTok inviting people to take a “paracetamol challenge” is causing concern among the poison control center and caregivers. Teenagers are encouraged to overdose on paracetamol to see who can stay in hospital the longest.
“This is a trend that we have been seeing since August 2023, when it was mainly discussed in the USA. But this trend has spread to the rest of the world and is also being felt here,” says the bearer. – word from the poison control center. “These young people are engaging in this ridiculous competition while an overdose presents a mortal danger.”
An overdose of paracetamol can result in serious liver damage, which may require a transplant. “It can also cause kidney damage, impaired brain function or brain edema. In the most severe cases, it can even lead to death.”
According to emergency doctor Gerlant Van Berlaer (UZ Brussel), who also supervises the pediatric section of intensive care, paracetamol poisoning is one of the ten main causes of hospitalization of children in intensive care.
-The poison control center can be contacted directly and free of charge on the number 070/245.245.
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