The Chilean Ministry of Health has issued an urgent alert following a 500% surge in paracetamol poisonings among schoolchildren and adolescents.
Health officials released the warning through social media, noting that while the medication is a common and generally safe household item, excessive consumption poses severe health risks to minors.
Juan Carlos Ríos, director of the UC Toxicological Information Center (CITUC), provided data illustrating a significant upward trend in overdose cases over the last two decades.
According to CITUC records, adolescent poisoning cases rose from 168 in 2006 to more than 1,000 in 2025. The spike is also evident among younger populations, where cases involving schoolchildren increased from 30 in 2006 to more than 150 in the same period.
Severe medical complications
The primary danger of high-dose ingestion is acute liver damage.
"One of the main risks is severe hepatic damage that can appear hours after the medication has been ingested," Ríos said.
The medical consequences of these incidents can be life-threatening. In the most severe instances, patients require immediate hospitalization and the administration of an antidote.
"In the most serious cases, these poisonings require hospitalization, the use of an antidote, and even a liver transplant," Ríos stated.
The Ministry also addressed the role of digital trends in these rising numbers. Ríos explicitly rejected viral internet challenges that instruct young people to consume large quantities of the drug.
"It is fundamental to stay informed," Ríos said, adding that "challenges on social networks are not a game."
Health authorities are now urging the public to strictly follow recommended daily dosages to avoid complications.
