Chile's Ministry of Health (Minsal) has issued an alert following a 500% increase in paracetamol poisonings among students, linked to dangerous viral challenges on social media. The Ministry identified a trend where minors ingest high doses of the medication to induce hospitalizations.
Data from the Universidad Católica Toxicological Information Center reveals a significant rise in these cases over the last two decades. According to the center's records, poisoning cases among adolescents rose from 168 in the mid-2000s to over 1,000 in 2025. The number of poisonings among school-aged children also climbed from approximately 30 to more than 150 during the same period.
Severe health risks
Minsal Director Juan Carlos Ríos stated in a recent video that while paracetamol is safe when used correctly, excessive consumption causes grave health consequences. The specialist warned that one of the primary risks is severe liver damage.
This damage can manifest several hours after the ingestion of the drug. In complex medical situations, patients may require hospitalization, the administration of antidotes, or even a liver transplant.
Health authorities are calling for immediate prevention and urging the public not to replicate these social media challenges. The Ministry emphasized that these online trends are not games and can lead to permanent physical harm.
