Orange with Media Services, published on Friday April 03, 2020 at 11:04 am
The agency points to 4 origins of risk situations: disinfectants or cleaners, hydroalcoholic solutions, essential oils and anti-inflammatories.
The coronavirus epidemic and the fear of contamination has led to an explosion of disinfection, cleaning or home care gestures. But it is not without risks: the health agency Anses warned Thursday April 2 against intoxication and domestic accidents too quickly arrived.
Since early March, “poison control centers report numerous domestic accidents and poisoning” in connection with the new coronavirus, emphasizes ANSES, which identifies four origins of “risk situations”: disinfectants or cleaners, hydroalcoholic solutions, essential oils and anti-inflammatories. Poison control centers received 245 calls from March 1 to 24 regarding a case of exposure to one of these four types of product in the context of the coronavirus epidemic.
Regarding cleaners and disinfectants, watch out for toxic vapors, warns ANSES.
Do not mix several products, especially bleach and descaler which together produce chlorine vapors. Do not bleach your food, do not use surface disinfectants for your personal hygiene. Beware of children: any product must be stored out of their reach, says the agency, which also points to the danger that can represent the transfer of products in neutral, deceptive containers.
Regarding hydroalcoholic gels, the main risk concerns accidental exposure of children to these solutions or to the products entering into the composition of the variants to make oneself (alcohol at 70 °, hydrogen peroxide). As for essential oils, which can be harmful in the event of misuse, they “do not constitute a means of combating the coronavirus”, recalls ANSES. Better to contact a pharmacist if in doubt about their use.
Finally, with regard to anti-inflammatory drugs, the health agency recalls “good behavior”. In case of chronic illness, “do not stop a prescribed anti-inflammatory treatment” and “take advice from your doctor”.
Apart from any chronic treatment, “do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and prefer taking paracetamol in case of fever”, as already recommended by the Ministry of Health, anti-inflammatory drugs that can worsen an existing infection.
While health authorities fear that people shun health services for fear of coronavirus, “in case of intoxication, do not refuse or postpone a consultation necessary in the emergency room or in a medical office,” said ANSES, who reminds us to “follow the directions of the Poison Control Center precisely”
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