Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications should always be stored safely and away from young children
Every year, about 50,000 U.S. children visit the Emergency Department because they swallowed something potentially dangerous. The good news is that most of those children go home without having suffered any serious harm. The scary news is that about 9,000 children need to be hospitalized, and some die from poisoning.
Today, opioids are the most common substance contributing to fatal poisonings among children age 5 and under. The proportion of opioid-related poisonings are on the rise, contributing to 52.2% of deaths in 2018 compared to 24.1% of poisoning-related deaths in 2005, a new study shows.
“Children are curious—and they love putting things in their mouths,” said Elizabeth Murray, DO, MBA, FAAP. “Exploring what objects feel and taste like is part of how they learn about the world around them. Children’s non-stop curiosity is what brings all the great — and sometimes silly — questions and creativity, but it can also lead to trouble. There are some steps that caregivers can take whether at home or visiting others to help prevent a tragedy.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following 10 tips to keep medications out of the hands of children.
Sometimes children are prescribed pain-killers for an injury or medical concern. While many people believe opioids work best for pain, recent studies show that non-opioid medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen, as well as non-medical approaches can be just as effective.
If children continue to have severe pain, a doctor may prescribe a pain reliever that contains an opioid. If your child is prescribed an opioid it is important to monitor your child's use of it. It should be taken exactly as prescribed, and for the shortest time necessary. Also consider talking with the doctor about co-prescribing naloxone, which can prevent opioid overdose deaths, whenever an opioid is prescribed.
“Children who learn about medication safety at home are less likely to use drugs than those who don't learn this at home,” Dr. Murray said. “Start talking about medication safety early by advising young children not to take any pills without asking you first.”
To request an interview with an expert, contact AAP Public Affairs.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.