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Ingestion of prescription drugs by children: an epidemiologic study

W D King1, P A Palmisano

  • 1Southeast Child Safety Institute, Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham 35233.

Southern Medical Journal
|December 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Child-resistant packaging reduced product ingestions by 65%, but prescription drug ingestions by children decreased only 36%. This highlights a continuing risk, necessitating targeted caregiver interventions to improve child safety.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatric Safety

Background:

  • The Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 mandated child-resistant containers, significantly reducing accidental ingestions.
  • Despite this, pediatric ingestion of prescription drugs remains a notable cause of morbidity, indicating a gap in current safety measures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors contributing to the ongoing problem of prescription drug ingestion by children.
  • To provide an epidemiological perspective on the risks associated with pediatric prescription drug exposure.
  • To propose targeted interventions for high-risk caregivers to mitigate these risks.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive epidemiologic study design was employed.
  • Data were collected from cases reported to a poison control center.

Main Results:

  • While overall product ingestions in child-resistant containers decreased by 65%, prescription drug ingestions by children declined by only 36%.
  • This indicates a persistent and significant risk of prescription drug ingestion among children.

Conclusions:

  • Ingestion of solid prescription drugs by children represents an ongoing, preventable health risk.
  • Interventions should be developed and targeted towards caregivers identified as high-risk to reduce pediatric morbidity.

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