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[Drug use safety in paediatrics]

Cecilia M Fernández-Llamazares1, Silvia Manrique-Rodríguez, María Sanjurjo-Sáez

  • 1Servicio de Farmacia, Área Materno-Infantil, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. cmartinezf.hgugm@salud.madrid.org

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|January 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children are highly susceptible to medication errors. About 50% of pediatric drug use is off-label or unlicensed, increasing risks and necessitating careful therapeutic strategies for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pharmacology
  • Drug safety in children
  • Clinical pharmacy

Context:

  • Children exhibit heightened vulnerability to adverse drug events.
  • Pediatric drug prescription frequently involves off-label or unlicensed use.
  • A significant proportion of pediatric patients receive at least one medication under non-authorized conditions.

Purpose:

  • To highlight the increased susceptibility of pediatric populations to medication errors.
  • To underscore the prevalence of off-label and unlicensed drug use in children.
  • To emphasize the importance of ensuring optimal therapeutic results with minimal risk in pediatric care.

Summary:

  • Studies indicate that pediatric patients are more prone to medication errors due to their unique physiology.
  • Approximately 50% of medications administered to children are prescribed off-label or are unlicensed.
  • Around 70% of pediatric patients are treated with at least one drug under conditions not authorized by regulatory bodies.

Impact:

  • Informing healthcare providers about the risks associated with pediatric drug prescription.
  • Guiding the development of safer medication practices for children.
  • Promoting research into evidence-based guidelines for pediatric pharmacotherapy.

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