The coronavirus epidemic causes unexpected ... and potentially painful effects. Poison control centers are currently overflowing with calls from families who have disinfected their homes too much, or from people who have used excessive alcoholic gel or methylated spirits.
"There are patients who excessively decontaminate themselves, they will coat their bodies with, for example, hydroalcoholic gel or burning alcohol. They brush their chest, hands, stomach and legs, with products that are not recommended, "worries Magalie Labadie, head of the poison center of Bordeaux, interviewed by Europe 1.
>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation
"They will bleach the whole house and intoxicate"
Some people are so afraid of coronavirus that they spend their entire residence on bleach, to the point of intoxicating themselves. "They will bleach the whole house, which makes them intoxicated. It manifests itself by eye irritations or asthma attacks", notes Magalie Labadie. Some patients even need to be hospitalized.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> How long are healthy carriers contagious?
> What are the side effects of chloroquine?
> Adulterated tests, false calls for donations ...: watch out for scams linked to the coronavirus
> Reading, board games ... How to stimulate your brain during confinement?
> How to avoid gaining pounds during confinement?
Children drinking a sip of hydroalcoholic gel
Poison control centers also see calls for children whose parents have less time to monitor with telework. Some minors, for example, suck the disinfectant tablet from the toilet, or drink a sip of hydroalcoholic gel since, with the shortage, the bottles do not always have a stopper with child safety.
If you notice one of these cases at home, it is better not to call 15, engorged by the coronavirus, but rather to look on the internet for the number of the nearest poison center.
>> PODCAST - Coronavirus: find all the answers to your questions here