|
The potential for dangerous drug side-effects in infants
and young children exceeds that for adults because their bodies
detoxify chemicals less effectively than adults, and their
body sizes range widely in these years - making correct dosages
more difficult to administer. Prescribing drugs to infants
or children is additionally dangerous due to a lack of testing
in this age group.
In a recent study in the journal Pediatrics, researchers
examined over 7,000 adverse drug reactions in infants under
age 2, all submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
between 1997 and 2000. The authors also determined whether
the suspected drugs were transmitted from mother to infant
during pregnancy, or if the infant was administered the drug
directly.
Less than 1% of the nearly 2,000 drugs identified in the
study were associated with over half of all serious or fatal
side-effects. Deaths linked to side-effects were far more
likely in the first few months after birth (41% in the first
month). In a full quarter of cases, drugs were administered
to the mother, not the infant, and then passed to the child
through the womb or through breastfeeding. Included in the
list of the drugs most likely to cause dangerous side-effects
in children were ibuprofen and  acetaminophen
(drugs more commonly known by such brand names as Advil and
Tylenol).
In many cases, more risky drugs may be needed to avoid even
worse health emergencies. However, the authors of this study
note that only about 10% of the actual total of deaths and
serious complications from drugs may be reported, based on
FDA data. Talk to your doctor about which drugs are safe for
young children, and always exercise extreme caution when considering
any type of medication for them, or administering it to yourself
while pregnant - even if your doctor has approved its use.
Reference:
Moore TJ, Weiss SR, et al. Reported adverse drug events in
infants and children under 2 years of age. Pediatrics
2002:110(5), p. e53.
For more pediatrics studies, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics.
|
