Il Coronavirus it also caused a dizzying boom in household disinfectant poisoning. Since the outbreak of the emergency Covid-19 to date, in fact, their use has increased dramatically. In some cases, it has led to behaviors that are truly harmful to human health. The alarm was raised by the Poison Control Center of the Niguarda in Milan.
The usefulness of disinfectants
Disinfectants aim to reduce or completely eliminate the microbes and bacteria present in a certain environment or in specific objects. On the market there are different types intended for different uses. Regarding disinfection, there are four essential questions to consider: What needs to be disinfected? How should it be disinfected? When is it necessary to disinfect? Who should disinfect?
Having clarity on these questions also means choosing the right product. However, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus emergency, not only disinfectants have become unobtainable products; but even those few on the market have been sold at very high prices.
Boom in poisoning from disinfectants: the numbers of the 'Niguarda' Poison Control Center
To sound the alarm about the increase in disinfectant poisoning was the Poison Control Center of Niguarda; the hospital is one of the most important Italian references for the diagnosis and treatment of acute poisoning with over 50 years of activity. Consultation requests for disinfectant poisoning increased by approximately 65%. Especially the youngest are exposed: in fact, there is an increase of up to 135% of pediatric intoxications in the age group under 5 years.
Disinfectant poisoning boom: what are the triggers?
Unfortunately, in order to fight the virus, some rather dangerous behaviors have been triggered. On social networks and also on WhatsApp there are video tutorials, lasting a few minutes, to prepare disinfectants at home with a few euros. And many resort to these incorrect methodologies; in fact, it happens to see people in supermarkets who are hoarding the ingredients to prepare the miraculous concoction at home. However, it should be remembered that these tutorials are by no means reliable: first of all, you need to have specific skills when it comes to chemicals; the same, then, if incompatible with each other, cause serious damage to health. Between fake news and hoaxes of all kinds, you risk falling into all kinds of traps. We pay attention!
There are also those who exceed the use of disinfectants and, by soaking the masks, end up inhaling a high dosage of chemicals. And then again, there are those who leave the bottles unattended, perhaps without labels, and end up in the hands of children, who could even swallow them. We pay more attention especially if we have little ones inside the house.
What rules to follow?
So, what rules must be followed to avoid the risk of poisoning from disinfectants? First, be realistic and don't rely on tutorials that promise you miracle home products. Then, don't exaggerate in using them. Last, (but not least in order of importance): do not leave the containers within the reach of children. In case of ingestion, before going to the emergency room, contact the poison control center in your city of origin (the number of the Niguarda in Milan is 02-66101029). Through telephone management, you can also understand whether or not it is strictly necessary to go to the hospital.
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