The variety of US kids who suffered a seizure after swallowing another person’s treatment or unlawful substance almost doubled between 2009 and 2023, new analysis finds.
A lot of these seizures in individuals youthful than 20 spiked from 1,418 in 2009 to 2,749 in 2023, in response to an evaluation of nationwide poison information by College of Virginia researchers.
The poisonings most frequently concerned over-the-counter antihistamines, prescription antidepressants, and painkillers and unlawful artificial cannabinoids.
Incidents rose yearly by a median of 5%. Amongst individuals 6 to 19, instances doubled over the 15 years. There was a forty five% improve in instances of kids youthful than 6.
“Seizure is among the most extreme signs a poisoned affected person can expertise, and kids are notably susceptible,” mentioned Dr. Conner McDonald from the College of Virginia College of Drugs.
“Relying on variables comparable to the place a seizure occurs, how lengthy it continues and the pre-existing well being of the kid, seizures can result in long-term injury and even demise,” McDonald added.
His workforce attributed the “extraordinarily worrying” rise in instances to quick access to diphenhydramine, generally often called Benadryl, an over-the-counter antihistamine used to alleviate allergy signs, the painkiller tramadol, the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) and artificial designer medicine often called K2 or spice.
“Authorized and unlawful medicine might be purchased on-line and shipped world wide,” McDonald defined. “Subsequently, these medicine have gotten extra obtainable in houses and throughout the attain of kids.”
The researchers — who offered their findings Wednesday on the European Emergency Drugs Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark — are calling for producers to bundle the drugs in child-resistant tablet bottles and blister packs, the place the consumer has to push the pill via the foil, and for fogeys to securely retailer the drugs away from kids.
