Overview
- The Regional/Materno Infantil Hospital in Málaga reports several recent admissions of 14-year-olds with severe paracetamol intoxication requiring hospitalization, with no deaths reported in Spain.
- The viral challenge urges minors to swallow large quantities of paracetamol and claim victory by spending the most days in the hospital, with videos circulating widely on TikTok.
- Clinicians warn that doses around or above 4 grams in a short period can trigger acute liver failure, potentially leading to transplant or death, though N‑acetylcysteine can be effective if given early.
- Pediatricians advise parents to secure household medicines, watch for warning signs such as vomiting, abdominal pain and excessive drowsiness, and engage closely with their children about online behavior.
- Authorities note the trend began in the United States and spread to Europe, and U.S. reports attribute the death of an 11-year-old to the challenge.