TikTok: Belgian Poison Control Center Warns of the Risk of Paracetamol Overdose

The Belgian Poison Control Center is warning parents, schools, and healthcare providers about the risk of paracetamol overdose, Gazet van Antwerpen reported on Monday.

A trend on the social media platform TikTok encouraging participation in a "paracetamol challenge" raises concerns among the Belgian Poison Control Center and healthcare professionals. Teenagers are being urged to take paracetamol overdoses to see who can stay in the hospital the longest.

"This is a trend we've been observing since August 2023, when it gained attention primarily in the United States. However, it has since spread globally and is now affecting us as well," said the spokesperson for the Poison Control Center. "These young people are engaging in this absurd competition, despite the fact that an overdose poses a deadly risk."

Deadly Consequences

An overdose of paracetamol can lead to severe liver damage, potentially requiring a transplant. "It can also cause kidney damage, brain function disorders, or cerebral edema. In the most severe cases, it can even result in death."

According to emergency physician Gerlant Van Berlaer (UZ Brussel), who also oversees the pediatric intensive care unit, paracetamol poisoning is one of the top ten causes of hospitalization for children in intensive care.

The Belgian Poison Control Center can be contacted directly and free of charge at +32(0)70/245.245.