Be careful with the use of hydroalcoholic gel in young children: they can become poisoned 2026

The cell phone, the keys, the purse, the bag with things for the little one... to everything necessary that we usually take when we leave the house and have small children, we must add the mask and the hydroalcoholic gel, accessories that have become essential and that, once again, we remember the importance of always carrying, let's not forget that it is the responsibility of each person and that trying to reduce infections in this coronavirus pandemic is everyone's business.

Mask, safety distance of at least one and a half meters and frequent hand washing, when hands cannot be washed with soap and water because we are away from home, hydroalcoholic gel does its job. So far, at this point in the pandemic, everything is under control, or it should be. However, we must be careful with our use of hydroalcoholic gel, especially when we are talking about small children.

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Risk of poisoning in young children

The use of hydroalcoholic gels must be supervised in children under 8 or 10 years of age. This is what the Department of Health of Manises (Valencia) assures, which warns that these gels have a high alcohol content and there is a high risk of poisoning if children ingest them.

Experts assure that these gels are mainly composed of ethyl alcohol and water, but they can also carry perfumes or aromas that attract children, therefore, it is essential to supervise their use in children up to 8 or 10 years old, when they can already use it on their own and better understand how to use it and when.

What happens if children accidentally ingest this gel? In addition to causing irritation and a slight burn, poisoning can occur similar to that which occurs from alcohol consumption, which will be more or less serious depending on the amount ingested. It is very important to keep this product out of the reach of children.

What if the little one sucks his thumb?

Health workers warn that even more care must be taken in children who still suck their thumb or put their hands in their mouth, since they are more exposed to possible poisoning. Therefore, this somewhat widespread practice of applying the gel abundantly on the child's hands is not the best idea if he or she sucks his or her finger or hands. In these cases, resorting to soap and water is the best.

What to do if the child has swallowed hydroalcoholic gel?

If we have arrived late and the child has already ingested hydroalcoholic gel, the most common symptoms that will appear are irritation in the mouth and eyes in mild cases, and difficulties breathing or staying awake in more serious cases. In this situation, "it is recommended to wash the most irritated skin contact areas with plenty of water, do not provoke vomiting, keep the product that caused the poisoning and, in more serious cases, go to the emergency room," says Dr. Juan Carlos Jurado in a statement.

Be careful with gel and sun

This same organization also warns that you have to be careful with hydroalcoholic gel and the sun and advise not using it if you are going to sunbathe on the beach or in the pool, since burns may occur. In these cases, it is advisable to resort to correct hand washing with soap and water.