How to Prevent Children's Medication Poisoning?

How to Prevent children's Medication Poisoning?

Recent research indicates that more than 50% of poisoning cases in children are due to medication poisoning. As the use of prescription drugs for adults increases, the number of cases of pediatric prescription drug poisoning also rises, especially among children under 6 years old, followed by adolescents. In modern households, commonly used medications are often stored or kept on hand. If parents keep prescription medications accessible to children, it poses a significant risk. Once a child ingests something, there is a possibility of accidental poisoning. Certain commonly used antipyretic and analgesic drugs, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen, can cause acute kidney injury in young children or progress to chronic progressive kidney disease, and severe cases may require blood dialysis. Another example is the relatively new painkiller, oxycodone, which, if taken by a child in excess, can lead to various physiological reactions, ranging from pain relief to slowed respiration, and even respiratory suppression.

Research has shown that inadequate management of prescription medications stored in households is a direct cause of children's medication poisoning. For example, aspirin is a commonly used medication in households, and the child-friendly version contains flavorings, making it enticing for children to consume. Other medications that can lead to poisoning in children include antihypertensive drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, diabetes medications, antimalarial drugs, sedatives, sleeping pills, antidepressants, smoking cessation medications, and topical drugs (such as high blood pressure patches, nasal sprays, eye drops, etc.). For instance, the commonly used drug metformin for type 2 diabetes can be lethal if ingested by a child. Symptoms of ingestion may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and, in more severe cases, hypoglycemia, where the child may exhibit weakness, indifference, cold sweats, seizures, coma, and even death. After ingesting sedatives, children may experience muscle relaxation, leading to frequent falls while walking in mild cases, and in severe cases, drowsiness, stupor, or respiratory depression, which can be fatal. I once encountered a tragic incident where several young children accidentally ingested aminopyrine due to poor storage in a rural doctor's home. His 3-year-old son took the aminopyrine bottle and consumed the tablets, finding them tasty. Later, he shared the tablets with other children who were playing at his house, resulting in five children being severely poisoned. We managed to save two of them, but three of them died. It was a heartbreaking lesson.

Other reasons for children's medication poisoning include: 1) using too many different drugs in combination, which can lead to drug interactions, causing overdose or mutual antagonism, neutralizing their effects; 2) subjective use of drugs, with rapid developments in science and technology, new and imported drugs are continuously emerging, and some people self-medicate without consulting a doctor, based on incomplete knowledge; 3) overdosing: some patients are eager to recover quickly and increase the dosage of prescribed medications arbitrarily, leading to drug poisoning; 4) not following medical advice and overusing medications: for instance, taking antibiotics for fever and colds without proper prescription. Concurrently using medications prescribed by different doctors from various hospitals can also lead to adverse consequences.

To reduce the risk of medication poisoning in young children, the following points should be noted: 1) Key measures to prevent accidental poisoning from children's medications include enhancing the storage of household medications and promoting the use of child-resistant medicine bottles to ensure children's safety. All family reserve medications must be locked away, and medicine bottles should not be placed where children can access them, such as bedside tables, handbags, wallets, etc. 2) Before giving medication to children, carefully read the drug instructions, especially regarding dosage, indications, contraindications, and precautions. Improper medication use is the most common cause of medication poisoning in children under 1 year old. 3) Do not refer to palatable medications as candies or give tasty drugs to children as if they were candies. This can tempt children to sneakily take them. 4) Do not take medication in front of children, as children love to imitate adults and may attempt to try the medication when you are not paying attention. 5) Explain the purpose of medications to children so that they understand their toxic nature. 6) Keep medications in bottles with original packaging labels to avoid using the wrong drug. 7) When buying medications from a pharmacy, choose child-safe packaging, check the expiration date, and do not dispose of expired medications haphazardly. Do not flush them down the toilet; instead, discard them in designated recycling bins. 8) When taking a child to the hospital for medical treatment, the doctor should clearly explain to the parents the purpose, dosage, method of administration, and possible side effects of medications intended for children, follow the doctor's instructions to avoid adverse drug reactions.