The Ministry of Health (Minsal) has issued a critical alert regarding a spike in paracetamol poisonings among children and adolescents, driven by dangerous social media challenges. The figures represent a massive increase of up to 500% in the incidence of cases within the school-age population.
According to data released by health authorities, the crisis is clearly reflected in long-term statistics. Minsal reported that cases among adolescents rose from 168 recorded in 2006 to more than a thousand in 2025, while cases among school children climbed from 30 to over 150 during the same period.
The root of this phenomenon is linked to viral challenges on digital platforms. In these trends, young people attempt to consume as many pills as possible to see who can best withstand the symptoms of an overdose, according to reports from BioBioChile and El Mostrador.
Risks of irreversible liver damage
While paracetamol is safe when taken at the recommended dosage, massive ingestion poses lethal risks. According to information provided by Minsal, the consequences of an overdose include severe liver damage, the need for a transplant, and even death.
Jaime Lepe, an academic at Universidad del Alba, warned about the misconception surrounding the drug. “There is a false sense of security with common medications like paracetamol, which, in an overdose, can cause irreversible liver damage in just a few hours,” Lepe stated in a press release cited by BioBioChile.
Lepe was emphatic in his warning, stating that “this is not a game, and the consequences can be serious or even fatal.”
The issue extends beyond medicine to become an educational challenge. Specialists consulted by both news outlets agree that social media is normalizing high-risk behaviors. Lepe added that families, schools, and authorities must work together to teach digital critical thinking.
Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Ríos, director of the UC Toxicological Information Center (CITUC), was the source that provided the specific growth data in an audiovisual report published on Minsal's X account, as reported by El Mostrador.
Health authorities have urged adults to supervise access to medications within their homes. Additionally, they recommended seeking immediate emergency medical attention if symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or confusion occur, as liver damage can progress rapidly.
