Sep 28, 2009 8:03 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Children & Medicine Dosage
Study: Many Young Kids Overdose On Prescription Drugs Because Parents Aren't Paying Close Enough Attention
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
More than 500,000 American children end up in the hospital or require some type of medical treatment each year due to bad reactions or side-effects to many common medications.
Now, new research advises parents and doctors to be more vigilant when giving or prescribing drugs to children.
Daniela Menghi double-checks with both her pediatrician and the pharmacist before giving her two young children any medication.
"Dosage was always something that really preoccupied me, knowing that you could really harm a child if you give them a little bit too much," Menghi said.
Parents should be preoccupied. A new study shows almost 600,000 children are treated annually for bad drug reactions, including accidental overdoses, side effects, medicine mix-ups, and allergies.
"Children who are less than 5 years old were most vulnerable to those reactions. In fact, they accounted for about 43 percent of all the adverse reactions we studied," said Dr. Florence Bourgeois.
In part, that's because younger kids are exposed to medications for the first time. The research, based on nationwide studies spanning 11 years, shows penicillin and other prescription antibiotics were most problematic for smaller children. For teenagers, most bad reactions came from stimulants, anti-depressants, and hormones such as birth control pills.
The study found no deaths from bad drug reactions, but a large number of patients had to see their pediatrician or go to the emergency room. Five percent were hospitalized.
"I would never forgive myself if I were trying to help my kid and I ended up doing something that would cause them more harm," Menghi said.
Experts say medications come in many different forms and concentrations, and a bit of caution now could prevent health problems down the road.
Researchers say parents should be especially vigilant when giving their kids any new drugs and be on the lookout for common side effects such as rashes, nausea, vomiting and belly pain.
Accidental overdose was also a common problem, so make sure to call your doctor or pharmacist with any questions.
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