Thirteen teenage students have been hospitalised after taking Viagra with fruit juice as part of a sick online challenge.

The students ended up in hospital after mixing the pill with passionfruit juice during their lunch break at San Bartolome School, in the community of Atalaya, in the municipality of Cucuta, located in the north-eastern Colombian department of Norte de Santander, on 5th April.

According to local media, 13 ninth-graders, aged between 14 and 15 years, wanted to take part in a social media challenge where participants ingest a sexual stimulant pill with food or drink.

During their lunch hour, the 13 teenagers reportedly took the pill, only suitable for adults, with passionfruit juice and promptly fell ill.

School head Astrid Leonor Alvarez said: “Minutes later, they began to suffer from tachycardia [increased heart rate], a symptom that immediately alerted the teachers.”

The students were taken to the Comuneros Basic Unit (UBA) medical centre, where they received prompt medical attention.

UBA spokesperson Ricardo Contreras said two students presented serious symptoms and that nine other children with milder symptoms were referred to their GP and discharged.

All the students remain under medical observation.

The incident was reported to the Police Group for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, which has started an investigation.

The school said in a statement: “Due to the situation, the institution proceeded to activate safety protocols to resolve atypical behaviours that affect the good image of the institution. I urge parents to guide, accompany and monitor their children on the proper management and use of social media. The incident was dealt with immediately, therefore the school office is operating completely normally.”

The school head also said that an urgent meeting with parents, students and the school counsellor will take place to prevent a similar situation happening again.

The police investigation continues.