Prescription drugs may help adults manage their age-related health problems and live longer. However, if not handled with proper care, the same life-saving medicines can prove to be deadly for the little ones in the family.
Gathering more evidence on the issue, researchers found that a recent surge in prescription drug use by adults in the U.S. placed young children at higher risks of poisoning.
The study, published June 3 in Pediatrics, noticed that American adults were relying more on prescription drugs like diabetes drugs, statins, beta-blockers and opioid pain killers recently, and these medications were making a significant number of young children seek emergency care for poisoning, NBC News reported. Researchers based the study on information collected from the National Poison Data System and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 2000 and 2009.
During the period, more than 38,000 children were accidentally exposed to diabetes drugs, nearly 39,700 to statins that lower cholesterol levels, more than 49,000 to beta-blockers that help manage blood pressure by bringing the heart rate down, and nearly 62,500 to opioid pain killers. According to the report, most of these medications can pose risks to children's lives.
"Increasing adult drug prescriptions are strongly associated with rising pediatric exposures and poisonings, particularly for opioids and among children 0 to 5 years old. These associations have sizable impacts, including high rates of serious injury and health care use," the authors wrote.
In the background information, the researchers cite the case of a 3-year-old girl who accidentally ingested her grandmother's heart and diabetes pills. In most cases, the researchers found the lack of child-resisting packaging playing an important role. Though doctors could save the toddler, experts recommend blister packs to prevent such incidences in the future.
Recently, in February, authorities at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled two common drugs used to treat cough, cold and flu (Triaminic Syrups and Theraflu Warming Relief Syrups) for posing poisoning risks to small children. Children were reportedly opening the child-resistant caps easily and consuming the medicine.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), of the 2.4 million poisoning cases in the U.S. every year, more than half are children aged 6. Children have long been accidentally exposed to many poisonous materials in different products commonly found around the household - medicines, pesticides, lamp oil and cleaning products. To prevent poisoning among children and to spread further awareness among parents, the nation celebrates the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week every year. During this time, advocates circulate themed messages and educate the public about preventing and treating accidental poisoning.
